Ever since I was a little kid in Mexico Christmas has been a special time for me, I can close my eyes and remember the "posadas" which start on December 16 and run through December 24. It is a tradition to celebrate a posada every night where many get together and reenact when Joseph and Mary got to Bethlehem and asked for a room at the inn and time and time again they were sent away. We do this by way of song, where the group outside represent Joseph and Mary and the group inside rempresent the village innkeepers.
Then we would brake anywhere from two to four pinatas which most of us spent all morning making from scratch. This part of the celebration fun. The pinatas were filled with some candy but mostly fruits such as oranges and sugar canes, as well as a bunch of peanuts. The pinatas were made out of a clay pot which we covered with layers and layers of glued newspapers. We were pretty creative and many different designs were made during the fourteen days.
Every house had a very elaborate Nativity set and going to church on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day was a must. Although we have our own Christmas carols we also have a Spanish version to most of the popular American Christmas Carols. Then believe it or not, firecrackers are a huge part of the celebration as well.
Although we knew of St. Nick most of us kids didn't expect presents, instead we would wait another 13 days and on January 6th we would write a letter to the three Wise Men and put it inside one of our shoes which then were left outside the room doors.
As we came here to the U.S. it wasn't hard to very quickly adopt the American way as we too got caught up with all the gift giving and the food and so on.
Christmas to me is just one happy holiday and the Christas season fills me with joy and peace.
So, I wish you all a Merry Christmas. Celebrate Jesus' birth with your loved ones as this is a wonderful time to spend with the family.
6 comments:
I agree! I tell Diego and Alayna all the time that the traditions in Mexico are different and they didn't get it. I was telling them about writing to the three wise men and leaving it in their shoes. They said they want to try it. Haha. Maybe you should tell them about it from when you were little. I hope going back to church they will understand it more.
Believe it or not we all waited for Christas time with anticipation. It was always such a nice festive time and no presents were ever given out in our hood. lol It was more about living and celebrating in harmony with one another. So different than from here, except I imagine now the American way probably caught up to them in Mexico.
I've loved Christmas since childhood too, and always looked forward to getting to be an angel or shepherd, and ever perhaps get to play Mary in the Church Children's Plays.
I still love Christmas, and love that we can enjoy family, and food, and celebrate the Birth of the King of Kings.
Merry Christmas Jose...and to all those who you love and love you.
Thank you Wanda. May your Christmas be a happy one. I know you will be surrounded by those you love. (((Hugs)))
I remember and prefer the tradition of the Three Wise Men as a day to receive presents. I have a few bitter-sweet memories of it.
Christmas in Mexico as a little kid, is a little bit of a blur. But I have great memories of Christmas gatherings with family and close friends growing up in the house on 21st Street.
Midnight Mass takes on a hole new meaning for me. And I'm looking forward to attending this year again.
Yeah, I remember the three Wise Men well but came to the conclusion that they were illiterate because my letter always asked for a bike and I got a tiny little car or something like that. Oh wait, one year they splurged and bougth me a tricycle.
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