Christmas in San Miguel de Allende
Christmas in Mexico is unique. It is steeped with beautiful rituals and traditions.
The Christmas festivities began shortly after one of the most important Mexican holidays, “la fiesta de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe†or Our Lady of Guadalupe.
There are three main Christmas celebrations in Mexico. They start with “Las Posadas,†on December 16th , Buena Noche on December 24th and end with “La Fiesta de Reyes.†on January 6th. These traditions were started as a way to teach Catholic doctrine to the Aztecs.
Posadas Navidenas
December 16th to the 24th of December is the celebration of “Las Posadas,†or “The Inns.†It ends on the 24th of December or “Noche Buena.†It is a re-enactment of Joseph and Mary’s difficult search, for lodging, when traveling to Bethlehem.
“Las Posadas†were created when Spanish Catholic Priests asked Rome to give them special permission to celebrate nine “Christmas Masses†to represent the nine months of Mary’s pregnancy along with teachings about Jesus’ birth.
Catholic friars used the 9-day celebrations to coincide with the Aztec tradition of “Fiestas del Sol†which ran from December 16th to the 24th The festivity celebrated the virgin birth of the Aztec Sun god, Huitzilopchtli.
Today in Mexico, the tradition starts with a “host†family, who become the inn keepers. They prepare a dinner-party for the rest of the neighborhood or friends and family. The “friends†are the pilgrims “peregrinos.†The hosts prepare food and often a party for the kids. The party ranges from a small get together to a large fiesta.
The pilgrims go door to door, typically to three houses, and ask for lodging. They sing the traditional litany asking for shelter. They are turned down until they come to the third house, where they are let in by the appointed “innkeeper.â€
The “peregrinos†carry small candles. The “peregrino†at the head of the procession carries a candle in a paper shade or “farolito.†They also carry an effigy of Joseph, leading Mary who sits on a donkey and a Christ child. The effigies are left at the host’s house and picked up the next night before the procession begins again.
At each house there is a nativity scene. When the “peregrinos†are let in at the “innkeepers†house they kneel in front of the nativity scene and chant the rosary, and then sing traditional songs.
Typically there is a piñata for the kids filled with small candies and small toys. The typical foods that are served are tamales and “ponche.†“Ponche†is warm drink, that is most often made with different fruits and spices and served warm.
This is a an example recipe for “poncheâ€
2 Golden Delicious apples, peeled, cored, and cut in 1/8ths
3/4 cup raisins
1 pound guava, quartered
3 (3 to 4-inch) pieces sugarcane, each cut in strips
1/2 cup prunes
1/2 pound crabapples, peeled and cored
2 cups (1-inch) diced pineapple
1 cup sugar
4 (2-inch) pieces Mexican cinnamon
8 cups water
Tequila
In a large pot, place the fruit, sugar, cinnamon, and 8 cups of water. Bring to a boil and lower heat and simmer for 1 hour. Serve hot in a mug that has a shot of tequila in it.
Note: You can make it without the tequila for the kids and nondrinkers.
Las Pastorelas are theatrical productions that are enjoyed throughout Mexico during the Christmas season. There are amateur and professional performances. Most, are usually humorous improvisations.
Las Pastorelas or Shepherd’s Plays were created by Pope Cornelius I., to teach people about the Bible and the life of Christ, through theatre. Each Catholic Country chose which part of his life they wanted to depict. Spain chose the birth of Jesus.
Quickly after Cortes’ landing, the Friars taught the indigenous people, of Biblical events through reenactments or plays. These large outdoor public spectacles often combined Catholic doctrine with indigenous presentational practices, such as realistic representation, complete with drugged snakes and other animals.
Noche Buena
December 24th, is called “Noche Buena†or “Good Night.†The festivities begin with the midnight mass or “Misa de Noche Buena,†also called “Misa de Gallo†(Rooster’s Mass). Afterwards, everyone gathers at family and friend’s house’s to eat and drink. Baby Jesus is ceremoniously placed into the manger, in the nativity scene. The evening winds down with the opening of gifts, and the children have piñatas and sparklers (luces de Belen).
Christmas Eve is also tied into the indigenous festival of the planting of the corn. Alters are constructed for the corn planting. Offerings are made of herbs, seeds and candles.
There is also a beer that is produced only during the holiday season called “Noche Buena.â€
Flor de Noche Buena (the Poinsettia) is the official flower of the Christmas season. There is a legend surrounding the Poinsettia. A poor peasant girl was going to mass on Christmas Eve. She was very sad because she didn’t have a gift to give to baby Jesus. On her way to the church she gathered a few flowers to take with her. When she arrived at the church she presented the flowers and they turned from green to bright red.
Flor de Noche is called a “Poinsettia,†because it is named after Dr. Joel R Poinsett, who served as a Minister to Mexico in the 1820’s. He fell in love with the huge bushes covered in bright red flowers and experimented with cuttings that he took back to his Charleston, South Carolina home. He was the first to begin cultivation of the Poinsettia, north of the border.
In pre-Hispanic cultures, the “Cuitlaxochitl†(as the Poinsettia was called), were used as a poultice for infection and the large blossom was placed on patients chests if they were suffering from cardiac problems. It was thought to stimulate circulation.
Christmas Day
Christmas Day, the kids get up early and open presents. This tradition is relatively new, fifty years or so. In the past, kids only received presents on Christmas Eve and on January 6th, Three Kings Day. On Christmas Day, everyone rests and enjoys all the leftovers.
Three Kings Day
January 6th is Three Kings Day. Please see January festivals… http://whatshotinsanmiguel.com/festivals/january-san-miguel-de-allende/
