monthly focus ~ south of the border Christmas

SOUTH OF THE BORDER CHRISTMAS
Celebrating Christmas in Mexico

Christmas starts early in Mexico.  December 16 is the official beginning of the Christmas season with the Posadas.

The Posados are re-enactments of Joseph and Mary searching for a place to rest. Communities often come together and plan these re-enactments for up to 9 nights, symbolizing Mary’s 9 months of pregnancy.  However, posados may be just a one night event.

During the Posada people act out the part of Mary and Joseph walking or in more elaborate events on a donkey. They are followed by others invited to the event. The group will go from door to door asking if there is a place to stay only to be turned down each time. As “Mary and Joseph” move from house to house seeking lodging,  the group of invited people that follow behind sing songs that talk about their search for lodging. Once the group reaches the pre-designated house, they are told to “come in and find lodging.” 

It is at this house that the party breaks out!!  There are typical foods like tamales, hot chocolate, breads, etc. to eat  and piñatas for the kids of all ages. The typical song sung while someone is trying to hit the piñata is as follows:

Dale, dale, dale No pierdes el tino; Porque si lo pierdes: Pierdes el camino One, Two, Three

Hit it, Hit it, Hit Don’t lose your aim Because if you lose it, You won’t find your way! Uno, Dos, Tres

The count represents the 3 tries that each person gets to hit the piñata.

From the 16th of December on,  the streets are filled with vendors selling every kind of ornament or decoration made from wood, paper, ceramic and even Styrofoam, which is painted like ceramic. Artificial Christmas trees are already in the stores and the more sophisticated decorations are becoming very popular.  Figurines for the nativity scenes are sold and fresh moss can be purchased to set the nativity on. Nativity scenes vary in size.  Some nativity scenes take up a whole room of the house while others are quite small. One thing that is constant in a nativity though is that the baby Jesus is not placed in the scene until December 24th.

Christmas Eve is a very special night. People dress up and go to family members houses to visit.  There are lots of special foods to share on Christmas Eve. 

Since this is a special time for folks to be going out, we take the opportunity for our church to have a candle light service with Christmas songs and hymns and a message on Christ’s birth. This is planned early in the evening to allow people to visit with family.

In Mexico, religion is important at the holiday time.  The midnight mass is the most highly attended mass of the year. 

The Christmas Eve meal is eaten after midnight and goes quite late into the morning hours. The meal usually consists of  turkey or leg of lamb that has been cooked in a special sauce with chilies and a special hot (temperature not spicy ) Christmas punch is served not only then but  throughout the season.  The hot punch has sugar canes and many fresh fruits floating in it.

Children may receive gifts during the dinner Christmas Eve dinner, but most do not expect their gifts until  Kings’ Day which is January 6th.   Kings’ day represents  and celebrates the 3 Wise Men’s visit to the Christ child. Traditionally, the children would attach their “wish” gift list to a helium balloon  and  release it in a park or the town square for the Kings to see.

On January 5, the day before Kings’ Day, a special ring bread is found in all the bread stores. In fact, it is the only time it is the only bread available in many bakeries. Friends and family will get together to cut the bread.

As a church, we have planned events around the Kings’ Bread to invite friends and neighbors to. If you find a small baby in your piece, you will then invite everyone present to your house on February 2 for tamales and hot chocolate (Not everyone expects the party on February 2 unless it is with family). 

Why February 2?  Finally on February 2, the Christmas season  officially ends.  It is then that  people take the baby Jesus from their nativity scene to the Catholic church to be blessed. All Christmas decorations are then put away until the next year.

Christmas in Mexico still centers around the birth of Christ. There is not a lot of commercialism on gift buying. Gifts will be a small token given to someone to show their love or appreciation for the other.

EBM missionaries and Regional Coordinators,  Rick & Carol Hudson find that it is an excellent time for their church to make contacts and reach out in evangelism because everyone is focused on the Christ child and the  meaning of Christmas. There are many opportunities to share the gospel to more receptive hearts.

Christmas in Mexico is truly the best time of the year!

Carol Hudson

EBM Mexico Team :  Tim & Barbara Lee Glessner,  Rick & Carol Hudson, and Joe & Jenna Blakey (short termers) work in Puebla, Mexico.  Bryan & Susan Nevin work in Texcoco