Christmas in Mexico

The melody abd lyrics of Christmas carols is something as typical as having nougat on the table or getting together with your family on these dates: it cannot be missing. Passing from generation to generation, Christmas songs have always been part of the tradition on these dates and must continue to be so. 1- Las posadas: One of the traditions that differentiates Mexico from other countries is the tradition of Las posadas. It is a kind of pilgrimage that begins on December 16 and that recreates the search for inns by José and María when the child was to be born.  2- Bell over Bell:It is also know as Bells of Bethlehem and this Christmas song is another of the most classic on these dates, although it has a difficulty: not everyone knows the verses! Sometimes we get lost among so many bells and it never hurts to have the lyrics at hand.

The most widely spoken language in Mexican territory is Spanish, although the General Law of Linguistic Rights also recognizes native idigenous languages as national languages. There is also a strong presence of English as a second language in Mexico and it can be used. The national government officially recognizes 63 aboriginal languages, including Nahuatl, Yucatec Maya, Zapotec, Mixtec, Otomi, Totonac, Mazahua, and Huastec. About 7% of the population speaks at least one indigenous language. Other languages spoken are Plautdietsch in the Mennonite communities in the states of Veracruz and German in the Soconusco area and in the German communities in Sinaloa, such as Mazatlán and Culiacán.

4. The origin of the -christmas tree, according to historians, is in the festivities of the Nordic peoples for the birth of the God King, during which they decorated an evergreen tree. Legend has it that the reformer Martin Luther was the first to light a Christmas tree with large candles. 5. The rounded shape of mistletoe wreaths represents eternity, since it has neither beginning nor end. It is also said to symbolize Christ's crown of thorns, while the red berries symbolize the blood he shed in his passion. 6. In many Latin countries, the feast of the Three Kings is celebrated on January 6. Although they are known as Melchor, Gaspar and Baltasar, the Gospel of Saint Matthew, which is the only biblical source that mentions them, refers to them as "some magicians from the East", without specifying their names.

1. The Christmas Eve turkey is native to Mexico: In Mexico, during the 16th century, the Aztecs were the first to prepare the Christmas Eve turkey. They made it for the conquistador Hernán Cortés, who liked the dish and took it to Spain. Previously, In Mexico they called it guajolote. 2. The tradition of hanging stockings for gifts: Placing stockings for gifts comes from the origins of Saint Nicholas. This saint saved three women who were prostitutes and to stop them from doing it, he placed gold coins in their stockings while they slept. It should be noted that Santa Claus is based on this saint. 3. Silent Night has 733 versions: The Silent Night song is the most popular at Christmas. It has 733 versions since 1973. It was written by Father Joseph Mohr, in Austria. He was inspired when his church orga broke. There is also a story that a priest wrote it while he was in a church in Austria.

In December we can see many houses decorated with Christmas trees, Santa Claus, Christmas wreaths, socks, candles, poinsettia, balloons with which figures such as a snowman or the entrance to a chimney are created. The piñatas are colorful, made of clay and cardboard, filled with seasonal fruits, peanuts, and a variety of candies. The shapes of the piñatas are varied, there are stars, princesses, "unpleasant" characters and superheroes, among others. Another of the spaces that people decorate is the birth where the central figures are María and José, together with shepherds and stable animals; in addition to the child God that is placed on December 24, which according to tradition is the date of birth.

The pinatas Piñatas are not only used on children's birthdays in Mexico but also at Christmas. They are often part of the Posadas or the Christmas Eve party. The cardboard figures wrapped in crepe paper are traditionally filled with fruit. However, as the tradition has progressed, other elements have been incorporated into the piñata, such as sweets. Kings Day Three Kings Day is the closing of the Christmas season, here, chilldren receive gifts from the Three Wise Men, who arrived a few days after the birth of Jesus Christ to honor him with gold, incese and myrrh, although in the case of Mexico, the little ones receive toys instead. The Rosca of kings After Christmas, Three Kings Day arrives, which culminates in the visit of the Three Kings to leave gifts for Mexican children, and prior to this moment, in Mexico it is customary to hold meetings to break the Kings' cake, a bread, usually orange, baked in a circular fashion, accompained by dried fruit and sugary areas.}