Here in the rural areas of Coto Brus, a parish in Costa Rica, Christmas is a time for Catholic families, their neighbors, and friends to celebrate a “Rosario.” These simple religious services are held in a family home and include the singing of carols, prayers, a few refreshments, and neighborliness. I've been a participant in Rosarios in three different homes since I've been living here even though I'm not Catholic or anyone's family member. I've been sort of adopted by my neighbors. Each Rosario has been a little different, but so far all the homes have been too small to accommodate all the attendees, have been very basic “rustico” farm family houses, and have ranged from rather sedate to rather boistrous. Being a “senior” has helped me get a seat under a roof and usually inside the house. The younger people and children mill about outside during the religious part of the celebration when there isn't room enough inside for everyone. Teen-agers tend to separate into a guy group and a gal group. They do a lot of exchanging of looks, the guys acting “macho” for the benefit of the “chicas” and the girls pretending not to notice the “chicos.” Older chicas join the women in preparing and serving the food and eggnog. I can't really participate in the songs and prayers because 1) I can't carry a tune and my singing voice kills plants and 2) I don't know the prayers (in Spanish) and, of course, I don't really believe in the whole religious thing. For me, the beauty of these events involves the feelings of togetherness, sharing, caring, and neighborhood – warm and loving in humble surroundings.