Christmas in Mexico

The Posadas

These festivities are held during the nine days before Christmas which, according to religious tradition, represent the period when Mary and Joseph were seeking shelter before the birth of Jesus.

In commemoration of the journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem, guests sing Christmas carols and the litany to the Virgin. Children and adults alike, carrying candles and representations of Joseph, Mary, the angel and even the little donkey, visit neighbors and ask for posada (shelter). At the end of the journey, the piñata, stuffed with candy and fruit, is broken.

The piñata is an essential part of Mexican parties during the Christmas season. Although it is difficult to track its precise origin and meaning, in his book Mexican Traditions, Sebastian Verti highlights its pre-Hispanic and European roots, whereby the struggle of good against evil is implicitly present.

The "Pastorelas"

Together with the posadas, they constitute the prelude of Christmas in Mexico. The pastorela refers to events prior to the birth of Jesus and culminates with the splendor of the manger and the shepherds' worship. The pastorela, as a scenic and literary genre, had its roots in 16th century Spanish religious theatre, and was later adapted by missionaries as an instrument to evangelize the natives of America.

The pastorelas are humorous and joyful, with an innocent, country style, where even Lucifer and his court of "little devils" appear with naïve wickedness. They seek to awaken noble feelings of love towards our fellow men, as well as universal fraternity.

Cuetlaxóchitl or Christmas flower
(Flor de Nochebuena).

The cuetlaxóchitl (Poinsettia) is known as the Christmas flower, due to its beautiful red colour, and because it blooms mainly in December. In some countries, it is known as Poinsettia, after a former US ambassador to Mexico, Joel R. Poinset. It is said that he liked the flower so much that he named it and sent it to the United States and later to Europe.

January 6. The Three Magi
(Día de Reyes)

Every year, children gather at the Alameda Central Park in Mexico City to visit the Three Magi and hand-deliver letters with their wishes, as they are supposed to bring toys on January 6. This tradition evokes the Three Wise Men who came from the East and, following the star of Bethlehem, reached the Christ Child and presented him with gold, incense and myrrh.

The King's ring-shaped bread
(Rosca de Reyes)

The traditional Epiphany supper of ring-shaped cake with hot chocolate came from Spain to Mexico during the early years of the viceregal reign.

It is decorated with sugar and dry fruit such as figs, quince, cherries, which improve its flavor and embellish it. A tiny figure representing Christ Child is hidden in preparation for the cake-cutting ritual. A centuries-old tradition states that whoever finds the "Child" is spiritually obliged to present the house's Christ Child at the nearest church on February 2 and to offer a tamales-party in his honor.

On the night of January 6, as knife descends slowly, breaking the crunchy decorated crust of the King's round cake, expectation reigns among guests. Once the person cutting the slice "hits" upon the Child, there's no way out. The "lucky" one accepts with resigned laughter and the promise of fulfilling the obligation assumed.