Celebrating Christmas In Mexico
Christmas is a special occasion in most Spanish speaking countries. It's perhaps the biggest occasion of the year to celebrate in Mexico. There are dozens of traditions that are celebrated in Mexico every year during the Christmas season. Many weeks of preparation go into getting ready for that special day on December 25th. In Mexico the weather is warm and comfortable during the Christmas season, and many people take vacations with their families at this time of year and spend a lot of time outside.
Talking About Christmas In Spanish
Christmas in Spanish is called la Navidad. The word navidad is the Spanish word for nativity. The nativity scene, which shows the birth of Christ, is often displayed around Mexican cities in parks and other public areas. The nativity scene will usually include the baby Jesus, Mary and Joseph, and possibly the wise men, and assorted barn animals. The different states in the country of Mexico are known to include assorted characters in their nativity scenes that hold a special meaning and source of pride to the people living in that specific region.
This nativity scene in Spanish is called a nacimiento. Notice the word nacimiento sounds like the Spanish word nacer meaning to be born.
Special Mexican Food Dishes For Christmas
Home-made tamales are a popular Mexican food dish that many enjoy especially during the Christmas season. The tamales are made with masa and contain meat and vegetables of many varieties. The tamales are cooked and served in actual corn husk wrappers. The Mexican soup Posole is another popular dish that is served at Christmas celebrations.
Posadas
Many of the Christmas traditions and practices at Christmas time will sound familiar to people from the United States and most countries around the world. But the Mexicans have a special tradition called posadas that may not be as familiar to many. The Posada is an actual re-enactment of the travels of Mary and Joseph and Baby Jesus, going from hotel to hotel looking for a place to stay for the night, and finally ending up in the stable. Neighbors dress up as Mary and Joseph, often using an actual infant for Jesus, or even a doll. They visit the houses of their neighbors, entering and talking and singing a song and reading from the Bible. After spending a while at one house the say goodbye and move on to another house. In this way they remember and commemorate the journey to Bethlehem.