The one event/tradition that I miss and am kind of envious that my brother does try to keep going, is the "tamale making" parties around Christmas time.

You do need either a large family or talented, patient friends....

You need someone to cook the filling, soak abnd clean the corn husks, make the masa/dough, then stuff and cook them.

It was always a fun, communal experience, the women got to share recipes, gossip and laughs and us guys got to help move the huge pots, pitch in where we were needed and spend time having a few drinks.

The women would spike their drinks too, but in a way that was more socially acceptable. You could tell who was getting likkered up by the laughter level!