CHRISTMAS AROUND THE WORLD - ENGLISH PROJECT NINTH

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CHRISTMAS IN MEXICO

Say Merry Christmas in Spanish: Feliz
Navidad

 

 

In Mexico, the Christmas celebration begins nine days before December 25 with Las Posadas (Dec. 16^th). During this time the people in the town go to a different home each night. At each home the story of Mary and Joseph seeking shelter at the inn is acted out. When the owner of the house finally learns who his guests are, he jubilantly throws open the doors and bids them welcome. All kneel  around the manger scene or "Nacimiento" and offer songs of welcome, Ave Marias and a prayer.

 

Link to the traditional song sung at the Las Posadas   😜😜😜😜😛😛怚怘😛😛😛😛😛😛😛😛😛😛😛😛

The Tree

Santos or creche figures are an important part of a Mexican Christmas. The figures are used to recreate the nativity scene at the town's church. Some families decorate a small Christmas tree or arbolito (little tree), it is often an artificial one, a bare branch cut from a shrub collected from the countryside.

 

At midnight, on Christmas Eve, all the people in the town make a grand procession to the church to lay gifts before the manger and to celebrate Midnight Mass.

 

On Christmas Eve, at midnight the birth of Christ is announced with fireworks, ringing bells and blowing whistles. Devout worshipers surge into churches to attend the famous "Misa de Gallo" or "Mass of the Rooster."

The Decorations

During Christmas time the poinsettia flower is very popular. There is a legend that the poinsettia plant formed miraculously one Christmas Eve from a little girl's only gift to the baby Jesus at her church's midnight service; a bunch of weeds. Also popular, are luminarios. These are small, decoratively cut paper bags lit with small candles.

The Food

 

Following Mass, families return home for a tremendous dinner of traditional Mexican foods. Common foods are the ,"tamales," rice, "atole" (a sweet traditional drink) and "menudo," which is said to be more sobering than strong coffee.

 

The evening is rounded out with the opening of gifts and, for the children, piñatas and luces de Belen (sparklers). As these happy family gatherings generally last into the wee hours, December 25th is set aside as a day to rest.

 

Piñatas are a fun part of the Christmas celebration. Piñatas are figures made out of clay or paper-mache decorated with paper. Children use a stick to try to break the pinata. When one child breaks the piñata, all the children are rewarded with   a "rainfall" of candy and small toys.

 

The Gift Giver

 

 

The Christmas season continues in Mexico through Epiphany, which is called Día de los Reyes (Three Kings Day). Echoing the arrival in Bethlehem of Wise Men bearing gifts for the baby Jesus.

Children throughout Mexico anxiously await waking up January 6 to find toys and gifts left by the Reyes Magos (Magi). In some regions it is customary to leave out shoes where treasures may be deposited by the visiting Wise Men.

 

A special treat served on this day is the Rosca de Reyes--a crown-shaped sweet bread decorated with jewel-like candied fruits. Tiny figures of babies are hidden in the dough before baking. There is much excitement as each partaker cuts his or her own slice, for whoever gets a piece containing a baby is obliged to host another party on or before Candlemas, February 2, when Mexico's holiday season finally comes to an end.