The month of December is often synonymous with snow, good humor, friendly moments and a return to childhood! In Western countries like France, the United States or the United Kingdom, tradition dictates that the festivities last more or less three days: from December 24 to 26. In Mexico, this period takes place differently since it extends over almost a month and the conditions are not really similar to European customs. So imagine celebrating this period from December 12 to January 6, with your feet in the sand of Playa Balandra , a glass of Tequila in hand. Strange, isn't it? ;)

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The beginning of the festivities with the "Posadas"

In Mexico, Christmas celebrations are primarily religious. It all begins with the tradition of "Posadas." Associated with a series of processions in which young and old alike participate, tradition dictates that every night for nine nights (from December 16th until Christmas Eve), family and close friends gather, just as Mary and Joseph did in inns during their journey.
The youngest, holding a candle or a statue of a saint, go to their neighbors' houses to ask for hospitality. Once they reach the third house, tradition dictates that the children receive charity. At home, the "pilgrims" sing Christmas carols, and the most devout Catholics attend Midnight Mass or the Mass on December 25th. Every year, Mexicans set up Christmas nativity scenes or "Nacimientos Navidenos" in their homes. In Mexico, tradition dictates that every home have its own nativity scene, proof that they have truly given hospitality to Joseph, Mary, and baby Jesus.

The friendly moment of Nochebuena

In conjunction with the final evening of the Posadas, the Nochebuena allows loved ones to attend midnight mass and then gather together to share a traditional meal. For those curious, here is the menu (or romerito navideno): turkey stuffed with vegetables and raisins is the main course of the meal. It is accompanied by quelites, a wild plant similar to spinach. Mexicans season it with mole sauce, a spicy chocolate, and a green apple salad. Other typical dishes shared include "tamales," parcels wrapped in banana or corn skins; "atole," a hot drink made with cinnamon, vanilla, cane sugar, and corn flour; "buñuelos," crispy fritters; and "ponche," a spicy fruit drink to which adults can add tequila.
On December 25th, the tradition is to practice the recalentado, in other words "reheated." The next day, we reheat the leftovers from the day before to finish the dishes. The goal: to not leave anything in the fridge and, above all, not to waste anything!

Santa Claus in Mexico

As you can see, Mexican traditions are far removed from European customs. It is the baby Jesus himself who brings the Christmas presents, which are then opened by the children on the morning of the 25th. If you go to Mexico during the holidays, you will have no chance of running into Santa Claus in the street. Aside from Christmas Day, another gift distribution takes place on January 6th, the date of Epiphany. The day before, children leave their shoes under the tree in the hope of receiving money when they wake up. Tradition dictates that the baby Jesus is honored, as the three wise men brought him birth gifts on this date. For the occasion, Mexican families share "rosca," a fruit-filled king cake whose bean is a figurine of the baby Jesus. Traditionally, the person who stumbles upon this one will be paid the "tamales" and "atole" to their loved ones during the celebration of Candlemas, on February 2nd. Indeed, during "El Día de la Candelaria", Mexicans bring the baby Jesus from their Christmas crib to the church to receive a blessing and share another family meal. This tradition still has an aspect of the Christian faith in Mexico because on January 6th it was the Magi who came to bring their gifts to the little Messiah who had just been born.

The Christmas tree... in the sun

A tradition originating in America, the Christmas tree is also meticulously decorated by Mexican families. When you find yourself in Mexico for the Christmas holidays, you won't be completely disoriented, even if seeing a decorated tree in such heat seems unusual! Indeed, far from the cold and gray climate of the European continent, the celebration takes place in a more exotic atmosphere with light and casual outfits. So don't be surprised to cross paths with a superb Christmas tree while you appear on the white sand.

Saving the best for last: the Christmas piñata!

Of Chinese origin, the piñata in Mexico refers to the Christmas holiday. In Western countries, the piñata can take on different forms. In Mexico, its shape is generally always the same: an imposing ball decorated with seven colored spikes representing the earth and its riches, and also referring to the seven deadly sins. The religious character dominates and for the Mexican faith, the spiked ball is intended to seduce man into sinning. To resist temptation, man will therefore have to fight against the devil. He is blindfolded, because he must walk by faith to the piñata (symbol of sin) which he will then try to break to defeat the devil. When he succeeds in delivering the candies and other treats inside, he has defeated the devil and now shares sweets as a form of hope and reward. It is on the last day of the Posadas, December 24, that the piñata is destroyed.

As you can see, Christmas in Mexico is synonymous with many Catholic traditions applied to the letter. Customs vary greatly around the world, but one thing is certain: at Mapache, we're all looking forward to celebrating this holiday season with our loved ones!