Christmas in Mexico
- Las Posadas Las Posadas takes place during the nine nights leading up to Christmas Eve. It runs from December 16 th to 24 th. ...
- The Breaking of the Piñata ...
- Las Pastorelas ...
- The Display of the Nacimiento ...
- Nochebuena and the Traditional Christmas Eve Dinner ...
- Playing Jokes on Holy Innocent’s Day ...
- Three Kings Day ...
- The Traditional Rosca de Reyes and Dia de la Candelaria ...
What are the customs for Christmas in Mexico?
Christmas is still celebrated on the 25 th; however, December 12 th and January 6 th are also important days for traditions of Christmas in Mexico. Traditions followed during a Christmas in Mexico include breaking a piñata, setting up a nativity scene, and baking a plastic baby in a cake to honor baby Jesus.
How are Christmas traditions celebrated in Mexico?
What are some holiday traditions in Mexico for Christmas?
- Las posadas are traditional Christmas processions in Mexico.
- Piñatas are often a common activity at posadas.
- Tamales are a traditional Mexican food which are often eaten during the Christmas season.
- The Poinsetta flower comes from Mexican Christmas tradition.
What is some traditional Mexican food for Christmas?
Traditional Christmas Foods From Mexico
- Tamales. These cornmeal dumplings, which have many different delicious fillings, are time-consuming to make. ...
- Ensalada de Noche Buena. Although technically a salad, this is served after Christmas dinner and includes various colorful fruits and vegetables.
- Bacalao. ...
- Pozole. ...
- Pavo. ...
- Ponche Navideno. ...
- Bunuelos. ...
- Rosca de Reyes. ...
- Champurrado. ...
- Romeritos. ...
What kind of traditional food Mexicans eat Christmas dinner?
What do Mexicans eat for Christmas dinner?
- Spicy Pork Tenderloin
- Taqueria Style Tacos - Carne Asada
- Chipotle Crusted Pork Tenderloin
- Tamales de Puerco (Red Pork Tamales)
- Real Homemade Tamales
- Poblano and Cheese Tamales (Tamales de Rajas con Queso)
- Bacalao a la Vizcaina (Basque Style Codfish Stew)
- Pozole in a Slow Cooker
- Posole Soup
- Birria Recipe
What are 10 Christmas traditions in Mexico?
Christmas Traditions In MexicoLas Posadas. The first thing you need to understand about Christmas traditions in Mexico is the tradition of posadas. ... Nativity Scenes. ... Piñatas. ... Ponche and Rompope. ... Dia de Los Reyes. ... Rosca de Reyes. ... Candlemas. ... 7 Best Places for Snorkeling in Akumal.More items...•
What is the most popular tradition in Mexico Christmas?
From December 16 to December 24, Las Posadas in Mexico find children carrying candles as they walk around to houses, singing and asking for shelter. Posada means inn or lodging, so this tradition represents Mary and Joseph searching for shelter in the Biblical Christmas story.
What food does Mexico eat on Christmas?
Typical Foods Served During the Christmas Season in MexicoRussian potato salad. ... Pavo navideño. ... Ensalada de Noche Buena. ... Menudo. ... Bacalao with Romeritos is a Christmas tradition of Mexico's central region. ... Tamales sometimes will replace the bacalo or turkey.Volteado de piña. ... Ponche Navideño.
What is Santa Claus called in Mexico?
Spanish: Papa Noel (lit. While in countries like Mexico and Venezuela, presents might also be brought by El Niñito Dios (baby Jesus) or Santo Clós (Santa Claus).
What do Mexicans do on December 24?
Christmas is celebrated on December 24th in Mexico rather than on the 25th, when Mexican families will come together for the last 'posada', which are traditional Christmas gatherings that reenact the arrival of the pregnant virgin Mary and Joseph looking for a place to stay in Bethlehem.
What are the traditions in Mexico?
Día de Muertos (Day of The Dead) The Day of the Dead is a two-day celebration celebrated in Mexico. It is a party full of magic and folklore that dates back to pre-Columbian times to honor deceased family and friends.
How is Christmas in Mexico different from Christmas in America?
1. Mexico has 53 days of Christmas. The Christmas season here is better known as the “Guadalupe-Reyes Marathon” (seriously), running from the feast of Mexico's patron saint, the Virgin of Guadalupe (December 12) to Three Kings Day (January 6). That's a solid twenty-six days of Christmas.
What are some fun facts about Christmas in Mexico?
The nativity scene is the centerpiece of a Mexican Christmas, even more so than a Christmas tree. Mexicans put out their nativity scenes on December 16, the night of the first posada, but they only place baby Jesus in the manger on December 24. They do not add the three kings to the scene until January 5.
How do Mexicans celebrate Christmas?
Different regions of Mexico have slightly different Christmas traditions - but wherever in Mexico you find yourself over the festive season, you’ll find a joyous celebration of the season with hints to the religious significance.
Christmas Eve and Santa Claus in Mexico
In some areas of Mexico, presents are given on Christmas Eve, and in others on January 6th for Epiphany. Extremely lucky children might even get some gifts on both days. Similarly, there are different traditions about who brings gifts, with some families saying it's Santa while others say that the baby Jesus brings the gifts himself.
How much money do people spend on Christmas in Mexico?
Gift-giving in Mexico isn't as important as spending time with family and friends. Children will get gifts of course, but the focus is still on traditions and religion. Even though the season is becoming increasingly commercialized.
When does the Christmas season start in Mexico?
Christmas is a long season in Mexico, running from the 12th of December through to Epiphany with yet another celebration to mark Candlemas on February 2nd.
Wise is the smart, new way to send money abroad
Americans love Mexico. They travel to the large country at their southern border often. It’s one of the to international tourist destinations for traveling...
Feast of the Virgin of Guadalupe
In Mexico, the Christmas season begins with the celebration of the Virgin of Guadalupe, Mexico’s patron saint. It starts on December 3, a nine-day novena in honor of the Virgin of Guadalupe.
Las Posadas
Then, from December 16 to December 24, there are a series of processions and parties called Las Posadas. It comes from the word for “inn”.
Nacimientos
Many Mexican families celebrate the festive season with elaborate Nativity scenes in their homes. These nativity scenes are called Nacimientos. This tradition starts on December 16, and as time goes on, families add different characters to the display.
Pastorelas
This is a classic Mexican theatrical production about the shepherds’ journey to see the newborn baby Jesus.
Mexican Cuisine During Christmas
Food is an integral part of Mexican Christmas tradition. During the celebration, Mexican people prepare many traditional meals for the festivities. Every volunteer should try at least once to get a taste of Mexican Christmas cuisine. Here are some integral parts of the festivity cuisine.
Christmas Dinner
With all this talk about Mexican cuisine, let’s not forget the big event. In Mexico, it is tradition for the whole family to gather during a big dinner.
Villancicos
We mentioned this before, but Christmas carols in Mexico are called villancicos. Some of the songs are translations of popular English carols. For example, Silent Night.
Mexican Christmas Celebrations and Traditions
When most English-speakers think of Christmas, they think of the customs and traditions which originated in Northern Europe, like Christmas trees, evergreen wreaths, Santa Claus, mistletoe, and more. However, Mexican Christmas traditions are very different from the holiday celebrations in the USA.
How Christmas Got Its Start in Mexico
Christianity arrived in Mexico along with Spanish Catholic priests in the 16th century. With the priests and Catholicism came the celebration of Christian holidays, including Christmas.
Celebration of the Virgin of Guadalupe: December 3rd–12th
In Mexico, Christmas is not just a single day, but a whole season of Christmas-related celebrations which stretches from December 3rd through February 2nd.
Las Posadas: December 16th–24th
Then begins the season of las posadas. The name comes from the Spanish word for "inn," because of the role of an inn in the Christmas story. Posadas are processions or parties that take place to celebrate the Christmas season. They can take a variety of forms.
Christmas Eve: December 24th
On Nochebuena (Christmas Eve), it is traditional for Mexican families to attend midnight mass before returning home to a late-night feast that includes foods like bacalao, ham, turkey, and mole, with ponche to drink. Gifts are not usually given at this time, but this is changing with increasing cultural influence from the USA.
Christmas Day: December 25th
Called La Navidad in Spanish, Christmas Day is a fairly quiet day to spend with family members and recuperate from the big celebration the night before.
Day of the Sainted Innocents: December 28th
December 28th, or Dia de los Santos Inocentes, originally marked the day when King Herod ordered the killing of all newborn boys in the village of Bethlehem to keep the Christ from arriving.
1. Posadas
A gathering between friends and family that only happens between the 16th and 24th of December. This event commemorates the arrival of the future Virgin Mary with her husband Joseph to Bethlehem in search of a place to give birth to Jesus. Shepherds, animals, and the three wise men surround baby Jesus in a manger.
2. Pastorelas
Pastorelas are plays that adults or kids can make. It is common to watch the kids act at their school’s Pastorela. Consequently, this takes place in December, right before the end of classes.
3. Nativity of Jesus
The “Nativity” is a scale representation of the birth of Christ in the manger and is one of the most beloved Mexican Christmas traditions. You will find one in every Mexican home, office, or school. From simple re-enactments to vast and elaborate Christmas settings, including mountains, lakes, animals, wells, houses, and even small towns.
4. Christmas carols
There are Mexican Christmas carols such as “Silent Night” that were translated versions of English Christmas carols . However, some unique Christmas carols were inherited from Spain during the years of conquest and colonization of Mexico. These Christmas carols sing mainly about the birth of baby Jesus.
5. Christmas Mexican food
Food is an important aspect. A lot of time is spent cooking for family and friends. Classic Mexican Christmas food traditions you’ll find in every home and most restaurants:
6. Guadalupe-Reyes Marathon
Do you remember we said Mexico likes partying? Well, this is the perfect example. This period begins from December 12th (the day of the Virgin of Guadalupe) to January 6th (Epiphany Day or Three Kings Day). Posadas are held on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year, and the traditional Rosca de Reyes for almost a month.
7. Night of Radishes
This is a weird Mexican Christmas tradition in Oaxaca. The Night of Radishes is the longest tradition in the region. It takes place on December 23rd, the day before Christmas Eve, and consists of creating and exhibiting unique designs made from radish and other plants.
Asking for Shelter
There are two parts to the traditional posada song. Those outside the house sing the role of Joseph asking for shelter and the family inside responds, singing the part of the innkeeper saying that there is no room. The song switches back and forth a few times until finally, the innkeeper agrees to let them in.
Celebration
Once inside the house, there is a celebration which can vary from a big fancy party or a casual neighborhood to a small get-together among friends. Often the festivities begin with a short religious service which includes a Bible reading and prayer.
History of the Posadas
Now a widely-celebrated tradition throughout Latin America, there is evidence that the posadas originated in colonial Mexico. The Augustinian friars of San Agustin de Acolman, near Mexico City, are believed to have organized the first posadas.