Christmas in Mexico

In Mexico, Christmas isn’t a one-time event. It’s a full month of celebrations, marked with family feasts and lots of piñatas. Starting on 12 December and lasting until 6 January, Christmas celebrations in Mexico have their own flair. There are candle-lit processions, elaborate nativity scenes, Spanish Christmas carols, dancing and fireworks. While traditions like Christmas trees and Santa Claus have found a place in Mexican festivities, the holiday celebrations are firmly rooted in Spanish and indigenous culture.

A BRIEF HISTORY OF CHRISTMAS IN MEXICO
When Catholicism arrived in Mexico through colonialism during the sixteenth century, Spanish priests brought with them many Christian holidays, including Christmas. Over the centuries, these traditions influenced the indigenous culture, creating a Christmas experience that you won’t find anywhere else in the world.

EVERYDAY HAPPENINGS DURING THE MEXICAN CHRISTMAS SEASON

12 December: Day of the Virgin of Guadalupe (Dia de la Virgin de Guadalupe)
16-24 December: Las Posadas
24 December: Christmas Eve (Nochebuena)
25 December: Christmas Day (Navidad)
28 December: Day of the Sainted Innocents (Dia de los Santos Inocentes)
6 January: Three Kings Day (Dia de Los Tres Reyes Magos)
2 February: Candlemas (La Candelaria)

SOME MEXICO CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS

Dia de la Virgen de Guadalupe is a religious feast held on 12 December every year. Mexican pilgrims from all over the country travel to the Basilica of Guadalupe, a church located in the heart of Mexico City, to visit la Virgen Morena – the Virgin Mary. Afterwards, fireworks are set off, parades fill the streets and live musical performances take place throughout the city. The popular Christmastime food, buñuelos are sold by the dozen from street vendors, or made in many families’ kitchens.

POSADAS

From 16 to 24 December, processions re-enacting Mary and Joseph’s search for shelter take place in Mexico. Children walk from house to house singing the traditional Las Posadas song and asking homeowners to let them in. Every night, the processions end at a different house for a fiesta, with an abundance of food, drink and, of course, piñatas.

NACIMIENTOS

Many Mexican families celebrate the festive season with elaborate Nativity scenes in their homes. These are called “Nacimientos” and start on 16 December. As time goes on, different characters are added to the display. On Christmas Eve, the baby Jesus is put into his crib, and on 25 January, the Three Kings make their way onto the scene. But the tradition is not reserved for people’s homes. Many town centres in Mexico are known for going all out with huge replicas of the manger, animals, Jesus, the shepherds, and Joseph and Mary.

PASTORELAS

Pastorelas are theatrical productions about the shepherds’ journey to see the newborn baby Jesus. In these plays, the characters encounter various obstacles, such as devils and angels trying to influence which path they should take.

VILLANCICOS

In Mexico, Christmas carols are called “villancicos”. Some of these songs are translations of popular English carols such as “Silent Night”, while others like “The Fishes in the River”, (Los Peces en el Río) are unique to Mexican culture.

NOCHEBUENA

Nochebuena, directly translated as the “good night”, means Christmas Eve in Spanish. On this day, many families will attend midnight mass together, followed by a family dinner. Fireworks are also common, and there are poinsettia flowers (flores de Nochebuena) found all over city centres, as well as outside and inside people’s homes.

DIA DE REYES

Dia de Reyes is Three Kings’ Day, and this is when children in Mexico receive gifts to symbolise those brought by the Three Wise Men. Families and friends will also share a customary Rosca de Reyes, a sweet bread baked in the shape of a wreath. There are baby Jesus figurines hidden inside the wreath, and whoever finds one is expected to host the Dia de la Candelaria party on 2 February.

DIA DE LA CANDELARIA

Dia de la Candelaria marks the end of Mexico’s Christmas celebrations. On this day, local people will take their Christ figurines to church to receive a blessing. Afterwards, everyone heads to the house of the person who found the baby Jesus inside the Rosca de Reyes for a Mexican-style feast, which often includes tamales.