The Christmas Holiday in Mexico
The southern United States and Mexico are a lot alike; they share in a lot of traditions when it comes to cuisine, music, and even religious orientation. As hard as it may be to tell from the outside; Mexico has a rich culture of its own, and it is very well displayed in their cultural celebration of the Christmas holiday. The country of Mexico as a whole celebrates the Christmas holiday in many various, interesting ways.
In Mexico, the Christmas holiday can begin as early as December 16th. On this day, local children may participate in posadas throughout the village. During a Mexican posada, the children depict the scene of Mary riding a donkey through the streets of Bethlehem, belly bulging out in front of her. Mary's donkey is being led by her husband Joseph, and behind them is a group of children (sometimes they sing Christmas carols) who knock on doors asking if the couple can stay the night there. Of course, nobody does let them in to stay the night, but as the procession moves from home to home some people will join in the procession, which ends at the local church. A mass is held, and then the Christmas holiday really begins.
During the Christmas season in Mexico, sometimes pastorelas are held to celebrate the holiday. Pastorelas are little plays that depict the appearance of the angel before the three kings and their journey to the manger the night Jesus was born, frankincense, myrrh and gold in tow. Their journey is depicted from beginning to end, with the magi facing numerous obstacles and moments of extreme temptation. They are harassed by Satan and his posse along the way, but eventually Michael, an archangel of God, (usually somebody's child in a robe with a plastic light saber) comes along and defeats them, as the men move along their way.
There are lots of children in Mexico that receive their Christmas gifts from a jolly, rotund old elf named Santa Claus whose principal mode of transportation is a flying sled pulled by a fleet of flying reindeer--one of them bearing an extremely vibrant red nose. Still other Mexican children receive their gifts from el nino dios, "the holy child." El nino dios passes out gifts to the good boys and girls. In places where Reyes Magos (Three Kings) day is celebrated, the kings may leave gifts for the children in their shoes.
Piñatas are also an integral part of an authentic Mexican Christmas. Piñatas are hollow paper dolls that are usually handmade and filled with candy or coins. They are strung from a tree or a rafter in the ceiling, and children take turns swinging at the piñata with a stick or bat. Traditionally, the child at bat is blindfolded.
In Mexico it can sometimes feel like celebrating Christmas for an entire month. On the midnight of Christmas Eve, midnight masses are held in churches everywhere. Most people attend the mass, whose main theme is el nacimiento, the birth of Jesus Christ. Sometimes pastorelas may take place during this time as well.