The Online Magazine for Traveling & Living in Baja
New Stories - Subscribe for FREE - Advertise - Contact
Feliz Navidad from Mexico
The Nativity scene at the north end of the Malecon in La Paz. This particular scene involves many mannequins, thousands of lights and hundreds of visitors every night
Here in Baja California Mexico, the Christmas season really begins with the first day of “Posadas” commencing on the 16th of December. The festivities will continue on through, till the last day of Christmas known as the Epiphany or Three Kings day, January 6th.
The Posadas generally begin as candlelight processions which then end into all night fiestas that continue on for nine days until Christmas. In many areas of Mexico they still re-enact the Holy families search for food and lodging in Bethlehem on each of these days.
While you will not see as many Christmas trees, as in the other parts of the world there are many more that there were just a few years ago. Only a few years a go, the traditional Baja California Christmas tree was the dried skeleton remains of the century plants stem and flower. Painting these tree shaped stalks gold or silver and hanging decorations from the branches was very common to see.
Nowadays
with the major shopping centers selling fresh cut trees from the north
you can have a real pine tree for your home. You will also find these
days many of the same Christmas decorations you would find all over
the U.S. You will also encounter a great deal of Poinsettias available
here in Baja California. That is because the “Flor
del Noche Buena” originally came from mainland Mexico and has been
used to celebrate Christmas for many years. Click here for additional
article on Flor del Noche Buena.
The Mexicans also create el Nacimiento (nativity scenes) in most towns as well as in many houses with the Holy Family, Reyes del Magio (3 wise men), angles and animals in a manger. With Baby Jesus always being placed in the manger on Christmas Eve or Noche Buena as it is called in Mexico.
Interestingly, in the past it was the Three Wise Men that children
would write their wish list to in hopes of receiving their gifts on
the 6th of January, Dia de los Reyes (Three Kings Day). The children
historically would leave out their shoes on the 5th of January with
hay for the camels so the Wise Men would favor their wishes and leave
them their gifts.
Here in Baja California the Mexicans seem to do most of their gift
opening on Christmas day there are many that still prefer to open some
of or all of their gifts on Dia de los Reyes.
Another tradition for the Dia del los Reyes is the eating of the “Rosca de Reyes” a sweetbread cake, ring shaped, like bunt a cake, with small bits of fruit and candy inside. One of the special traditions in eating this cake is that there is a small plastic doll that represents baby Jesus that is hidden for one to find.
The one that receives the baby is responsible for giving a party and has to make the tamales for the Fiesta de la Candelaria on February 2. This is to be considered the last party of the Christmas season. Leave it to the Mexicans to stretch Christmas to over 3 months of fiestas!
Feliz Navidad y Prospero Ano Nuevo