Christmas in Mexico
As a Christian country that
really knows how to throw a party, Mexico pulls out all the stops throughout the
Christmas season. Many Mexicans actually take a full two weeks off of work in
order to celebrate properly!
The party begins with
"Los Posadas" on December 16. From the 16th through Christmas,
Mexicans celebrate the journey of Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem. Each of these
nights, children reenact the trials of Mary and Joseph by processing to three
houses and asking for shelter. At the first two, they are turned away.
At the third house, they are offered a stable to sleep in. Once they accept, the
party begins in the third house with worship, warm drinks and piñatas. On
Christmas Eve, the Ave Maria includes an additional verse to let Mary know it is
time for her baby to enter the world.
At midnight on Christmas
Eve, bells are blown, horns are tooted and fireworks are lit to welcome the
Christ Child. After midnight, a feast is served. This feast often consists
of menudo, tamales and atole. Other traditional dishes include roast ham,
turkey, pig, rice and chile rellenos. A hot fruit punch (ponche) often
accompanies the meal.
Christmas is dedicated to
the birth of Christ. Most Mexicans will attend a mass and celebrate, but
the celebration is religious- there are not presents exchanged (traditionally)
as in many cultures. Most of the day is reserved for siestas and leftovers!
December 28 is the Day of
the Innocents. This commemorates the children killed by Herod in his effort to
murder the Christ Child. Today, jokes are played on family and friends in an
attempt to be able to call them "Fool Saint."
Presents arrive on Three
King's Day (January 6) when the celebration includes Three King's Cake (Rosco de
Reyes) and another party. A small Christ figure is baked into the cake.
The guest who received the figure in their piece becomes the host of one last
party before Día de Candelaría on February 2nd. Candelmas honors Mary while
celebrating the day Christ was presented at Temple. This party often includes a
regional mole. Candelmas marks the official end of the Christmas season.
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