“Growing up in Venezuela allowed me to have beautiful Christmas memories with my family,” Zerpa explained. “Receiving presents was great, but we knew that the season was about something much more important: being with family and friends. In most Latin American cultures, families come together not only for the Christmas feast but also for dancing and singing throughout the season.”
Luzmira Zerpa is a prolific Venezuelan singer/songwriter and healer based in the United Kingdom. Zerpa has performed internationally as a solo artist and toured extensively throughout Europe with her band Family Atlantica performing in venues such as the Royal Albert Hall, the Royal Festival Hall, and the Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg, Germany. Her music blends traditional Latin American folk with world influences, notably Afrobeats, blues, and jazz.
“I think there’s a lot of pressure on parents nowadays to find the perfect gift for their kids and -even though it’s understandable-, it has made us forget to cherish what’s around us,” the artist affirmed. “I think that lack of appreciation led us to ask ourselves the question, ‘where is the Christmas joy I used to feel’?”
“I am not looking to change the local culture. I love the United Kingdom, and I think this issue surpasses boundaries. I’m just looking to make Christmas time more humane, enriching, and an enlighting experience since the holidays are about more than just shopping,” Zerpa assured. “A couple of friends and I have created events to make the community come together. Celebrate in the spirit of the season!”
Zerpa has joined talents with other artists, such as Camilo Menjura from Colombia and Baldomero Verdú from Venezuela, to create events filled with Christmas joy and a sense of community. This Saturday the 21st of December, she will hold an event that will shine a light on Latin American Christmas traditions in the hopes to rekindle the Christmas spirit.
Workshops will also be available, like a Piñata Workshop for £7, a Sing-Along with Camilo Menjura and Luzmira Zerpa who will take you into a journey of Villancicos and Aguinaldos (Latin American Christmas songs) from 3 pm until 4:30 pm for £12, and a Christmas Card workshop from 3 pm to 5 pm for £5.
Delicious Mexican and Venezuelan seasonal food will be served, such as Tacos al Pastor, Tacos de Tinga, Tacos de Calabacita, Hallacas, and Pan de Jamón, among many other delicious treats. Live music will be an essential aspect of this event as DJ Henry Bravo, Orquesta Estella, Coro de Clave Cuban Roots Community Choir, and LOLCHOIR will be playing in the evening, adding some Latin groove to the mix.
The event is set to start at 2 pm at Ridley Road Social Club, and entry will be free until 5:45 pm. If you can’t make it before then, the cover charge will be £10 for an unforgettable Mexican Posada with a Venezuelan, Colombian, Cuban, and Latin-Hackney twist all thanks to Luzmira Zerpa’s quest to bring back the holiday cheer.
