Happy Holidays

Christmas in Mexico

Taking advantage of the holidays, today I will share how Christmas is celebrated in Mexico, it is worth mentioning that each region has different ways to celebrate even also depends on the customs and traditions of each family.

Posadas.

In Mexico the holidays begin with the Posadas representing the pilgrimage of Mary and Joseph looking for a place to await the birth of Jesus, these celebrations begin nine days before Christmas on December 16 ending the 24th of that month, there are nine posadas symbolizing the nine months of Mary's pregnancy.

Currently the posadas, are celebrated in houses or any place you can rent, where it is carried out a brief pilgrimage with lighted candles and singing the traditional litany, then offers a small dinner with typical Mexican food like tamales and punch or atole, piñatas are broken, there is music, union, joy and fun.

Piñatas.

The piñatas are very important in the Posada. The piñata can be of clay or cardboard and is prepared, filling it with candy, peanuts and Mexican seasonal fruits. The traditional piñata is the star shape with seven peaks representing the 7 deadly sins, the person who hits the piñata must be blindfolded, symbolizing that his blind faith and with God's help destroy evil. So, to break, fall fruits and sweets which are the blessings that God gives to those who believe in Him and fight against evil. 

 
Pastorelas.

Pastorelas are one of the most deeply rooted traditions of the holidays in Mexico. Pastorelas are festive theatrical performances that evoke the events leading to the coming of Jesus and ends with the adoration of the shepherds to the newborn Jesus in the manger.

The Pastorelas are jolly and joyful, and mixed, divine and human characters, where the main characters are God, the Virgin Mary, Joseph and the shepherds who come to worship the baby Jesus in Bethlehem, representing the devil ridiculing him, and always end with his defeat, with the triumph of good over evil. Its aim is to awaken in the audience feelings of love, giving a moral and religious message where the Christian faith is exalted.

Birth. 

In Mexican households, birth is assembled which is a visual representation of the birth of Jesus, they placed ceramic figures and plastic, depicting the Holy Family in a manger, also pastors and Bible characters like the Magi. Each family puts his personal touch there are from the simplest to the most elaborate. 

 Christmas Eve dinner.

 
It is customary in Mexico during the night of December 24th, on Christmas Eve families get together for dinner and celebrate Christmas together and give thanks for blessings received during the year. Typical dishes for this special occasion are romeritos with mole and shrimp, cod to the Biscayan, turkey, tamales, salad Christmas, atole, punch, fritters and pie. 

 Christmas in Mexico is much joy, celebration, color, union, love. 

MERRY CHRISTMAS!