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Christmas in Mexico: A Celebration of Tradition

The Christmas season in Mexico commences with Las Posadas beginning each year on December 16, with neighborhood children reenacting Mary and Joseph’s quest for lodging in Bethlehem.  The diminutive Joseph and Mary, she often riding upon a burro, are accompanied by colorfully costumed children portraying shepherds, angels and the Three Kings.  The procession will stop at two houses and sing traditional songs asking for shelter but will be turned away.  At the third house they will be told there is no room in the posada (the inn) but they may stay in the barn.  The story of the journey concluded, the time for celebration begins and generally features a piñata for the children.

In addition to Las Posadas, another form of biblical story telling occurs during the Christmas season with the staging of Las Pastorelas (Shepherd’s Tales).  These are generally light-hearted improvised plays depicting the adoration of the Shepherds for the baby Jesus.

While some wealthier Mexican homes may decorate a Christmas tree, most households will instead feature a nativity scene.  A Mexican nativity scene can be exquisitely detailed and beautifully crafted and will occupy a prominent place in the family home.  And on Christmas Day, the scene will be made whole with the placement of the figure of the Christ Child being placed in the awaiting manger. 

Christmas Eve, or Noche Buena as it is called in Mexico, is the day for celebration and Christmas day is considered a day of rest, which is well-deserved as Noche Buena parties go long into the night and into the wee hours of the morning.  Families attend Mass at the church before returning home for a late Christmas Eve feast.  Tamales are a traditional Noche Buena meal for most families but more affluent homes may serve turkey, ham, lobster, mole sauces, bacalao (cod fish), or suckling pig.  And a holiday toast will be made with a “ponche”, a warm fruit cider.  After dinner, there will be sparklers and a piñata for the children.

But the gifts?  Those are traditionally reserved for the Dia de los Reyes (Day of the Three Kings), alluding to the Three Wise Men arriving bearing gifts for baby Jesus on the 6th of January.  Delicious round bread called Rosca de Reyes will be served on this day and baked into the bread with be a small figure of the Christ Child.  

By:  Sylvia McNamee

While Santa Claus can be found the more exclusive shopping malls of Mexico, Mexican Christmas celebrations are mainly centered on Christian based traditions which have been celebrated since its Colonial period.

Whoever finds the figure in their slice of bread will host another party on Candlemas, February 2nd, which will mark the end of the Christmas season for another year.

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