Twas The Night Before Navidad in Mexico
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Mexico City - Christmas celebrations in Mexico are marked by diverse traditions and attractions which, combined with the sunny weather, drive thousands of tourists to the country during the winter months of December and January. It is during this time that visitors to Mexico will experience the unique traditions and warm hospitality of the country at its best as Mexicans countrywide celebrate the ultimate fiesta with sumptuous regional holiday cuisine, colorful and ornate decorations and traditional festivities.
One of the most impressive Mexican holiday customs are Las Posadas. A longstanding tradition carried out nightly from December 16 through 24, the Posadas are a religious and social celebration, paying homage to the biblical journey of Mary and Joseph from Nazareth to Bethlehem. Before becoming an annual tradition, the nine days of processions were created to teach the story of the birth of Jesus and to coincide with the nine day Fiestas of the Sun, which celebrated the virgin birth of the Aztec Sun God, Huitzilopochtli.
On the nine nights before Christmas, a party is held in a neighborhood home. At dusk, the guests gather outside the home to watch a procession of children and musicians dressed in colorful robes and bathed in the glow of candlelight. Once the singing procession reaches the home, one half enters the home while the other half remains outside to sing a plea for shelter inspired by Mary and Joseph's plea to the innkeeper. The doors are then opened, and the celebration begins with plenty of food and drink for all. The last posada, held on December 24, is followed by midnight mass.
Pastorelas (or shepherds' plays) are another key aspect of the Mexican Christmas tradition. Pastorelas are dramatic pieces which represent various historical scenarios, including the trip of Saint Joseph and the Virgin Mary to register themselves in the Roman census, the hardships they suffered while searching in vain for shelter, or one of the most common, the shepherd's adoration of Baby Jesus.
The plays date back to Mexico's Colonial period when Catholic missionaries used these dramatizations to convert natives to Christianity. The first known pastorela to have been performed was "Los Reyes" (the three kings) acted out by missionaries in 1527 in Cuernavaca. Today, they are often performed by professional groups, but also by children and amateurs.
Mexico welcomes the New Year with an abundance of music, dancing and fireworks. Streets are filled with revelers, friends and families congregating for parties that often last till dawn. One tradition calls for eating twelve grapes, one with each stroke of the chiming bell, at midnight for luck in the coming 12 months. New Year's Day is usually a quiet time of rest and reflection.
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Kriss Hammond, Jetsetters Magazine Correspondent – Read Jetsetters Magazine at www.jetsettersmagazine.com To book travel visit Jetstreams.com at www.jetstreams.com and for Beach Resorts visit Beach Booker at www.beachbooker.com
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Kriss Hammond, Jetsetters Magazine Correspondent. Join the Travel Writers Network in the logo at www.jetsettersmagazine.com Leave Your email next to the logo for FREE e travel newsletter.