BOERNE, Texas — Grocery stores around San Antonio know to keep their stock of tamales extra high around Christmas, but for some families there is nothing like home-made tamales made at a traditional tamalada.
The Solar family always expects a packed house at their annual tamalada.
"We got over about 20 people that are going to be here," said Armando Solar.
Armando moved to Houston in 1988, but he hasn't spent a single Thanksgiving or Christmas there. He always spends them with his brother Carlos.
"We have great friends there,” Armando said. “But those holidays are always about family now."
The two brothers and their sister grew up on the west side of San Antonio. Their mother, Maria Luisa Solar, passed away in 2107. She had been hosting tamaladas for over 60 years. Ever since, the family has watched a video of her making tamales at their own yearly tamalada.
“We try to emulate what they did as far as how to cook it, how to spice it, how to put them together,” said Carlos.
Carlos said the tradition is loose enough for their family that they feel comfortable altering the recipes. They switched to pork shoulder for the meat from the pork head that their mother had used, and they’ve experimented with other ingredients, like cream cheese.
Armando said this year feels extra special because they their nieces, Camille and Jillian Poznecki also came in from Arizona.
"We're going to definitely be laughing at what they're doing because they're going to have to learn how to do it. But it's all in fun. And yeah, and I'm going to have a great time."
The pair have not attended many tamaladas but Camille Poznecki said it still feels like home.
"It just feels like a family thing since we're not here all the time. So, when we do come, this is something we try to do,” Camille said.
In the few tamaladas they have been to, Jillian managed to collect some interesting stories.
“Remember the time we had the pigs head and the only way I could get out was by kissing the pig’s head?” said Jillian.
In the end, Carlos said the stories are worth more to them than the food.
"I really want it to keep going. I don't want it to ever die,” Carlos said. “It's a great way to keep family together, to come, to talk, to share good and bad things that are happening.”