La Navidad en México La Navidad en México

(Christmas in Mexico)(Christmas in Mexico)

©MFL Sunderland 2006 http://www.sunderlandschools.org/mfl-sunderland

Variety of activities Variety of activities that span the that span the period from period from

December 16th to December 16th to January 6th. January 6th.

The celebration are The celebration are the fusion of the fusion of

indigenous and indigenous and Spanish traditions. Spanish traditions.

LAS POSADASLAS POSADAS

fiestasfiestas, which , which represent Joseph and represent Joseph and Mary's arduous Mary's arduous pilgrimage on their pilgrimage on their way to Bethlehem, way to Bethlehem, and there are nine and there are nine posadasposadas, , from the 16 from the 16 to the 24 of to the 24 of DecemberDecember,, because because they symbolize Mary's they symbolize Mary's nine months of nine months of pregnancy pregnancy

LA PIÑATA LA PIÑATA A tradition that involves A tradition that involves

breaking a star shaped breaking a star shaped papier-mâché container papier-mâché container full of sweets, Mandarins, full of sweets, Mandarins, and small toysand small toys

A stick is used, and the A stick is used, and the piñatapiñata is hung on a cord, is hung on a cord, which in turn is moved which in turn is moved around to make it difficult around to make it difficult for the person with the for the person with the stick stick

You will hear the parents and children singing You will hear the parents and children singing special special PiñataPiñata songs including a verse which songs including a verse which says:says:

““no quiero orono quiero oroni quiero platani quiero plata

yo lo que quieroyo lo que quieroes romper la es romper la piñata”piñata”

(“(“I don’t need gold, nor do I desire silverI don’t need gold, nor do I desire silverAll that I want is to break the piñata!”All that I want is to break the piñata!” ) )

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

"¡Dale,  dale,  dale,"¡Dale,  dale,  dale,no pierdas el tino,no pierdas el tino,

porque si lo pierdes,porque si lo pierdes,pierdes el camino,pierdes el camino,Una, dos, tres!"Una, dos, tres!"      

("Strike it, Strike it, Strike it,("Strike it, Strike it, Strike it,don't lose your aim,  don't lose your aim,  because if you lose it,because if you lose it,

you won't find your way!you won't find your way!One, two, three!" )One, two, three!" )

PASTORELASPASTORELAS

The The PastorelasPastorelas in in Mexico starts as Mexico starts as

simple parables of simple parables of the struggle of good the struggle of good

against evil. The against evil. The light, humor-filled light, humor-filled

pastorelas are pastorelas are reenactments of the reenactments of the

shepherds' shepherds' adoration of the adoration of the

Christ Child Christ Child

NACIMIENTONACIMIENTONativity CrècheNativity Crèche

NACIMIENTONACIMIENTO

Nativity scenes in Nativity scenes in wood, clay, metal, wood, clay, metal, glass, wax, straw glass, wax, straw and almost any and almost any material you can material you can think of, are think of, are another rich another rich expression of expression of popular art popular art

FLOR DE NOCHE BUENA FLOR DE NOCHE BUENA (Poinsettias)(Poinsettias)

native to Mexico native to Mexico

In In NáhuatlNáhuatl they they were called were called CuitlaxochitlCuitlaxochitl or star or star flowers flowers

in Spanish they are in Spanish they are known as known as Noche Noche BuenaBuena

NOCHE BUENANOCHE BUENA 24th December24th December

Celebration of a late-night Celebration of a late-night Misa de Misa de GalloGallo (Rooster's Mass) (Rooster's Mass)

Modern influences have Modern influences have introduced the Christmas tree and introduced the Christmas tree and Santa Claus Santa Claus

Opening of gifts Opening of gifts

PiñatasPiñatas and and luces de Belenluces de Belen

(sparklers)(sparklers)

Traditional Christmas supperTraditional Christmas supper

homemade homemade tamalestamales and and atoleatole (corn (corn gruel) or other regional dishes gruel) or other regional dishes

roast turkey, ham or suckling pig are roast turkey, ham or suckling pig are other popular menu items; as well as other popular menu items; as well as RomeritosRomeritos (a herb) in (a herb) in MoleMole (a spicy (a spicy chocolate sauce) with shrimps and chocolate sauce) with shrimps and potatoes; and potatoes; and BacalaoBacalao - cod served - cod served a a la la vizcainavizcaina, a Basque dish. The , a Basque dish. The traditional dessert is traditional dessert is colacióncolación, a , a mixture of candies in syrup. mixture of candies in syrup. PonchePonche (a (a hot fruit punch),hot fruit punch), sidrasidra (sparkling cider) (sparkling cider) or other spirits are served for the or other spirits are served for the holiday holiday brindisbrindis (toast). (toast).

NAVIDAD NAVIDAD (Christmas day)(Christmas day)

A large reunion A large reunion

Mean meal around three o’clock in Mean meal around three o’clock in the afternoon, what it is known as the afternoon, what it is known as

““recalentadorecalentado”, because the ”, because the Christmas meal is reheated from the Christmas meal is reheated from the

previous night previous night

AÑO NUEVOAÑO NUEVO 31st December - 1st January 31st December - 1st January

Big party, is ushered in with an Big party, is ushered in with an abundance of noise, of wonderful abundance of noise, of wonderful fireworks and hundreds of skyrockets. fireworks and hundreds of skyrockets.

Friends and families celebrate with Friends and families celebrate with huge bonfires, music, food and huge bonfires, music, food and dancing dancing

Custom: 12 grapes at midnight, each Custom: 12 grapes at midnight, each one on the strike of the bell, for good one on the strike of the bell, for good luck in each one of the following luck in each one of the following twelve months twelve months

family toasts with apple cider and family toasts with apple cider and start to eat (supper is the same as the start to eat (supper is the same as the Christmas)Christmas)

DIA DE REYESDIA DE REYES 6th January6th January

Twelfth Night, Epiphany, Three Twelfth Night, Epiphany, Three Kings Day, January 6th Kings Day, January 6th

The tradition in Mexico for The tradition in Mexico for Dia de Dia de ReyesReyes, Kings Day, is for children , Kings Day, is for children to leave their shoes outside the to leave their shoes outside the door so they can be filled with door so they can be filled with gifts from the Magi (Three Kings: gifts from the Magi (Three Kings: Melchior, Gaspar and Baltazar), Melchior, Gaspar and Baltazar), commemorating the gifts carried commemorating the gifts carried by the them to the Christ Child by the them to the Christ Child

Eating the traditional: “Eating the traditional: “Rosca de Rosca de Reyes”Reyes”

Special bread made for the occasion in the form of a crown, Special bread made for the occasion in the form of a crown, decorated with dried fruits and hiding in its midst one or several little decorated with dried fruits and hiding in its midst one or several little dolls dolls

The guest who finds the doll (representing the infant Jesus) in their The guest who finds the doll (representing the infant Jesus) in their slice of slice of RoscaRosca give a party on February 2nd, give a party on February 2nd, CandelariaCandelaria, with tamales , with tamales and atole for all. and atole for all.

DECORATIONDECORATION

¡FELIZ NAVIDAD ¡FELIZ NAVIDAD

Y Y

PRÓSPERO AÑO PRÓSPERO AÑO NUEVO!NUEVO!