Christmas in Mexico

How do we celebrate?

The not particularly elegant Christmas tree in the zocalo of Cuernavaca... it probably looks better at night.

Christmas is…

Celebrating on Christmas Eve. Families come together to eat and share presents late at night. The 25th is a holiday but a normal day here.

Christmas is…

Beautiful bright sunny days with low temperatures at night. The middle of the dry season.

So many different colours of bougainvillea, as well as the red of the nochebuenas and and the orange of the tulipan trees, covered in blossom right now.

Fewer but louder birds making the most of the garden and trees while those that migrated will return soon enough. The whistling of the yellow-breasted kiskadee, the cackling and squawking of the great-tailed grackle, the tinkly song of the social flycatcher, the drilling of the golden-cheeked woodpecker, the hooting of the mottled owls at night.

Christmas is…

Christmas trees at home, twinkling lights lighting up the trees, fluttering tissue paper with cut-out patterns in the streets of Cuernavaca, decorations everywhere.

Christmas is…

Turkey, mashed potato and a salad of beetroot and jicama. Bacalao and baguette. Romeritos with mole… too much to eat and too much to drink. Cakes, chocolates, desserts, dates, traditional Mexican sweets.

Christmas is …

Remembering those who have passed away this last year, the parents, brothers, sisters, husbands, wives, aunts, uncles, cousins, friends… who we all miss specially at Christmas. Also those that die on Christmas Day in hospital, at home, in an accident, in a myriad of different ways. Such is life.

Let’s not forget those pets who accompanied us for so long, who may have passed on to a better life.

Christmas is…

Religion, going to church. 12 million went to the Basilica in Mexico City to salute the Virgen de Guadalupe on 12 December, and perhaps they may be excused from going to church at Christmas. But the faithful will go and mass will be celebrated for those who want it.

Christmas is…

For Mexicans posadas are important. Christmas begins on 16 December when the first posada takes place and continues daily until Christmas Eve. Children and adults take to the streets to carry out a type of pilgrimage which consists of 9 houses, one a day, until they find the one where they will be given “posada”, or a place to stay. Once they find shelter then it is customary to offer punch, sugar cane, fruit, bags of sweets and peanuts. Then a piñata is raised on a rope to be bashed by the children who are showered with more sweets and goodies.

We only organise one posada in the community where I live, and we do this in the little park we have, the Saturday before Christmas. We divide into two groups, one in the park, the other in the street. We sing a special song asking for shelter and receive a reply until we come to the point where the song says yes, here you will find shelter. And then in we go, ready to enjoy the food and drink which everyone brings and shares. It’s a wonderful party which is enjoyed by all.

Christmas is…

Watching a good movie on telly. I suppose that is an English custom, not so much a Mexican habit, but old habits die hard.

Christmas is…
Too much traffic, panic-buying, people trying to make Christmas special this year, once again. Markets heaving with people, supermarkets so full of special Christmas stuff that you don’t know where to start, shopping centres packed with people looking for the best presents.

Christmas is…
Making phone calls home, sending messages, organising zoom sessions with the family, being in touch with friends and loved ones so far away.

Christmas is…
Having Christmas lunch outside in the garden at my friend’s house. She and I English, friends forever. It’s always a sunny day and we sit down under a roof to a splendidly decorated table and have turkey and all the trimmings, English style on the 25th, Christmas Day. The family love it, I do too!