History Of Christmas In Mexico

Mexican christmas trees and nativities.

History of christmas in mexico. Christmas is still celebrated on the 25 th. In mexico on days leading up to christmas the search of mary and joseph for a place to stay is reenacted and children try to break a piñata filled with toys and candy. On this day mexican children delight in the game where the pinata which is usually shaped like a bull or donkey is filled with candy and suspended from the ceiling on a rope. 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.

However december 12 th and january 6 th are also important days for traditions of christmas in mexico. Singing villancicos carols is a common tradition in mexico. Eventually catholicism reigned over mexico and christmas celebrations mirrored spain s more closely like whole roasted turkey at the dinner table. But not all was lost from the old world during the holiday season.

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. Our upcoming program a mexican christmas is a celebration of the unique sights and sounds of christmas traditions in mexico. Christmas navidad in mexico is a vibrant festive time of year with family parties lasting all night as they celebrate together the streets are decorated with poinsettias and lights and in many towns they have huge nativity scenes often with live animals. First a short history lesson.

Traditional decorations displayed on this holiday include nativity scenes poinsettias and christmas shoes the season begins with celebrations related to the virgin of guadalupe the patroness of mexico followed by traditions such as las posadas and pastorales. A version of the ancient panquetzalitzli tradition remains intact even as it is enshrouded by the narrative of the colonizers. El nacimiento las posadas y noche buena. Initially it was the spanish colonial settlers who celebrated the feast.

History of christmas in mexico navidad or christmas in mexico goes way back as 1538 when a local priest of spanish origin fray pedro de grante introduced the concept to the people. Some families have adopted the american style of christmas with a christmas tree and their version of santa claus. The spanish conquistadors first arrived in mexico in. To learn about the history of christmas celebrations in mexico we spoke to lucia mier y terán romero who grew up in mexico and is one of the featured singers in a mexican christmas.

The christmas season starts with celebrations that honor the patron saint of mexico the virgin of guadalupe a powerful symbol of mexico who plays a huge role in the country s political and. After spending many a christmas in mexico i am sharing the most common traditions. Christmas in mexico is observed from december 12 to january 6 with one additional celebration on february 2.