If you are among the Christmas enthusiasts who are already decorating the Christmas trees, buying Christmas presents, and singing Christmas carols, then you should consider the Mexican Christmas Season as your new best friend. Mexico is known for family values and partying for anything and everything. Christmas is no exception. The Christmas season in Mexico lasts nearly a month, spanning from December 12 until January 6. The season combines indigenous practices, Spanish customs, and newer Mexican inventions from the Colonial era and the Germanic and United States influences. Much like in America, marketing towards the Christmas season begins in November.
In December, people begin decorating! Poinsettias are used for the festive look. These flowers are not seen much outside of South America and the Southwestern US. To natives, they symbolized new life fallen warriors received and said warriors return to the earth as hummingbirds or butterflies to drink the nectar of the flower. It is also found in more modern Mexican legends that the plant was originally a weed that changed into a beautiful flower in order for a child to give the now beautiful plant to the baby Jesus. The bright green leaves and the vibrant red flower makes this flower jump out and further cements the “red-and-green” theme found all over the world for Christmas colors.
The “traditional” Christmas tree worldwide stems from mainly Germanic and American customs. They were imported to Mexico for the expatriate community but have gathered popularity with the rest of Mexico (and the world) over time. The presence of large chain stores allows for more families to obtain these symbols of Christmas. Despite Christmas trees not being native to Mexico or present for much longer than a century, the citizens embrace this tradition along with many, many others found around the world.
The heavy Christian and Catholic influence upon Mexico lead to the use of the well-known Nativity scene found in many Mexican homes and larger decoration displays. The religious influences also explain the last posada on Christmas Eve followed by the Mass of the Rooster late at night. This is followed by a midnight feast with various traditional Mexican dishes including bacalao, revoltijo de romerita, and more. Christmas day is used for families to recuperate, relax, and eat leftovers.
If you want your Christmas holiday to be as traditional as possible, hire a Mariachi band for the mass and/or the Midnight feast. Keep everyone awake and alert with so much dancing everyone might sleep through Christmas. Build up that appetite to eat the leftovers before the sun sets on Christmas night. If you aren’t looking for a fully traditional Christmas, bring in the feeling of Mexico and home by hiring our performers for your family party before or after Christmas. It’s never too early (or too late) to start celebrating this wonderful holiday. You have until January 6th to be in the Christmas spirit of Mexico! Bring in the poinsettias, get to cooking for the midnight feast, and find your best outfit for Midnight Mass ready! Christmas is right around the corner. Book us now or you’ll regret it.
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