Feliz Navidad from the Los Cabos Insider
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.
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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.
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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.
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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 |
