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| Christmas Carnivals » Christmas Around The World » Christmas In Mexico |
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Christmas In Mexico |
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Christmas in Mexico includes numerous Spanish traditions and customs. The main Christmas celebration is called La Posada. It is a nine night series of processions enacting Joseph and Mary’s journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem and search for shelter for the baby to be born. The procession is fragmented
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into two groups- the pilgrims and the innkeepers. The Pilgrims’ enquire from inns to inns for a shelter until they find the manger. A Christmas manger scene called nacimiento is set up in every home and public place. The Nativity celebrations are adorned with the scarlet poinsettia flowers .
Holiday festivities culminate on Noche Buena (Christmas Eve) with the celebration of a late-night Misa de Gallo or Rooster's Mass. At the mass congregants sing lullabies to Jesus. Afterwards people return home for a traditional Christmas supper that may contain simple homemade tamales and atole (corn gruel) or other regional dishes. Finally they welcome Christmas day with a jubilant medley of bells, whistles and firecrackers The Mexican children receive gifts through a pinata breaking ceremony. On Christmas day children are blindfolded and taken to break a decorated clay pinata that dangles and swings at the end of a rope. As soon as the pinata is broken, children collect the candy that is placed inside it.
Pastorelas or shepherd plays provide sheer entertainment during Christmas in Mexico. These are actually the Mexican version of Europe’s medieval Miracle Plays. These plays were performed in the countryside and included the activities of pastors or shepherds. Christmas in Mexico is also marked by wonderful pageantries like fireworks, bullfights, rodeos and Christmas Parades.
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