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Christmas in Mexico
By Marcia Lucas, Owner of El Interior
For those of you here in Texas who may tire of a Christmas season that
begins soon after Halloween and ends on Christmas Day, just consider the
Mexican Christmas calendar. It begins with the feast day of the brown
Virgin of Guadalupe—the spiritual queen (Reina) of indigenous Mexicans
and Empress of the Americas to others—on December 12, when pilgrimages
to the Basilica in Mexico City are a national aspiration and her image
is honored in homes and churches all over Mexico.
During the following days (December 16-24), Mary and Joseph’s search for
lodging—Las Posadas—is re-enacted nightly with food ,drink, singing, and
a blindfolded children cracking open a piñata filled with candy and
goodies. The celebration culminates on December 24, La Noche Buena, when
complicated and often enormous nativity scenes are erected in homes and
businesses, and it is not until after midnight that the baby Jesus is placed
in the manger. Besides the traditional Mary, Joseph, baby Jesus and
shepherds, nativity scenes (nacimientos) often include arboles de la
vida (trees of life), monkeys, scenes of Adam and Eve and mermaids,
which are considered Goddesses of Fertility, and a harbinger of good
rains in some indigenous cosmographies. All human activities of life
might be depicted in the nativity scene.
December 25 is a day of rest; no gifts are exchanged. On the 26th, the
Miracle Play (los Pastores) celebrates the arrival of shepherds to the
nativity scene. Customs and content of the plays vary widely throughout
Mexico but scenes with devils, angels and various animals are common.
This is followed by the arrival of the Three Kings, on January 6,
bearing gifts to honor the infant Jesus. The Dia de los Santos Reyes is
the principal day of gift giving and celebration in Mexico and Latin
America, especially toys for the children. Special breads that are
blessed are eaten and placed on the home altar.
The Christmas season closes on February 2 with Candelaria (Candelmas).
On this day, the baby Jesus figure (doll sized) is taken to the local
church to be blessed. On returning home the Jesus doll is dressed in
elaborate attire, with a large red velvet and gold heart pinned to the
chest, and seated in a miniature throne on the home altar. It is not
unusual for the Santo Nino to remain up throughout the year, but the end
of this week is when most of the nativities are retired until the
following year.
El Interior takes pride in our beautiful selection of nativities and
representations of La Virgen de Guadalupe, folk toys, tin ornaments,
angels, trees of life and decorations. Enrich your holiday magic. We
invite you to stop by and enjoy a cup of Mexican cinnamon coffee and
cookies throughout the month of December.
Have a fabulous season and come see us.
Con carino,
Marcia Lucas
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