Elena of Avalor S1 E11

## Plot

Everyone is preparing for Navidad, also known as Christmas, which is in two days. Also, that giant tree that looks like it's made of poinsettia flowers? That is not only an amazing and stunning piece of animation, but now I want a tree like that. It's also kind of funny, since those flowers are also called noche buenas, and the conflict of the episode is about various Nochebuena celebrations, referring to the Latin American celebration. It's basically Christmas Eve, but it looks like way more fun. Also, the reason for the red flower tree and not a traditional green pine tree? It's never cold in Avalor. It never snows. It's not the right environment for pine trees, because the kingdom based on Latin American culture and places. Sure, they could have some shipped in, but that sounds like a ridiculously expensive annual endeavor, even for the holidays. Isabel is excited because she gets to spend time with her best friend, Cristina. Yes, Cristina is in a wheelchair. The only time this is mentioned is when Isabel gives her a gift, a drawing board, and demonstrates how it goes on her wheelchair. Anyways, her father, Fernando, wants to thank Elena for her kindness and hospitality, so he invites her entire family over to their village to celebrate Nochebuena with them tomorrow night. Esteban and Francisco are reluctant to accept, since it's a family tradition for them to celebrate Nochebuena in the palace. That doesn't mean that they couldn't do something different this year though. However, a lot of other characters have arrived to invite Elena to their own Nochebuena celebrations. Naomi, her dad, and the sailors are celebrating at the harbor. Rafa, Mateo, and Marlena, a family friend voiced by Gaby Moreno, who sings the theme song, are celebrating in the old town square. Carmen, Julio, and Doña Paloma invite Elena to their celebration in Avalor City. Elena wonders if they can go to all of the celebrations and spend a little time in each place, but there's not enough time. Elena decides to accept all of their invitations and hold a party in Castillo Park so they can all celebrate together. Doña Paloma thinks this is a great idea, and plans to use the opportunity to make lots of money at her emporium. She represents the commercialism of Christmas. That is, the maximizing of profits above all else. For your second business lesson, the definition of commercialization is the process of managing or running something principally for financial gain. Anyways, everyone arrives at the park the next day. However, their traditions clash with each others'. The smoke from Carmen's grill means that Naomi and her dad have to move the boat, which scares the villagers' goats away. They trample all over Rafa's flowers, and probably eat some, since they're goats. Marlena's band is really loud, and so are Carmen and Julio's fireworks. Doña Paloma wants to make more money, so she suggests that they have a parade, build floats, and buy decorations from her, under the pretense that this way, no one will get in each other's way. However, Fernando and Cristina don't have time to go all the way back to their village to build a float. And I hate to be cynical, but they probably wouldn't be able to afford Paloma's pricey decorations. So Isabel and Elena help them build it by using decorations from the palace. Doña Paloma *still* wants to make more money, so she spreads the rumor that everyone's traditions are the best, and Elena will pick a float to lead the parade, so that they'll buy even more decorations. Oh, and Elena's Navidad dress looks beautiful! Everyone gets caught up in competition, and they start fighting. Rafa's float crashes into Carmen and Julio's. One of their trees falls onto Rafa's float. All of the candles on her float cause the tree to catch fire. Elena then has to use Naomi and Daniel's fountain to put it out. However, one of *their* candles lands on Carmen and Julio's fireworks, which ignite and go nuts. One lands in the piñata that Isabel and Cristina worked so hard to design and build, and destroys it. Everyone gives up and decides to go back home and celebrate Navidad the way they always have. Isabel is devastated that she can't celebrate Navidad with her best friend. Luisa tells Elena that sometimes, no matter how hard you try, you can't please everybody. They head back to the palace, and Elena says that she'll catch up with them later. She asks Naomi why everyone thought that she was choosing a float to lead the parade. Naomi explains that Doña Paloma told them so, and they all bought decorations from her store. Elena confronts her about what she did. Doña Paloma is a greedy woman who shows little, if any, remorse for what she's done. She does offer Elena any item in the store, free of charge, as a Navidad present. Elena, Isabel, and Cristina know that the holidays aren't about what you do. They're not about traditions, decorations, or gifts. They're about who you spend them with. She gets an idea, and decides to take Doña Paloma up on her offer. She takes a guitar, and she and Gabe go on a parranda (it's basically caroling in this context). Everyone follows her on her way to the castle, including Gabe, Cristina, Fernando, Carmen, Julio, Mateo, Rafa, Marlena, Doña Paloma, her assistant, Naomi, and her dad. Carmen and Julio apologize to Rafa, Marlena, and Mateo, and vice versa. They all should've been more respectful to each other, and wonder if they can all go on a parranda together as a new tradition. Doña Paloma is forgiven at the end, and everyone gathers around the big poinsettia tree. Isabel is happy that Cristina is there. The song everyone sings, Let Love Light The Way, is so beautiful and heartwarming. Not to mention impressive. It has the honor of being the song with the most individual vocalists in a Disney song **EVER**. The episode ends with Elena wishing Isabel a happy Navidad. The animation is just beautiful.