In Mexico Christmas is not just a single day, but a whole season of Christmas-related celebrations which stretches from December 16th through February 2nd. Gift-giving is done on January 6th (the day which marks the visit of the three kings to Jesus in the manger), and is not as important as time spent with family and religious celebrations.
Christmas celebrations in Mexico begin with posadas, processions which take place on each of the nine evenings leading up to Christmas Eve (Nochebuena in Spanish). From 16th-24th December the people in a Mexican neighborhood gather together and process through the streets to a particular house. The neighbors take the part pilgrims (the Holy Family) in a song which is chanted back and forth between the pilgrims and the residents of the house (who play the part of the innkeeper). Eventually they are admitted and there is a party in the house, with food and drink, and a piñata in the shape of a Christmas star. |
Sra. Egerbrecht | La Navidad-Christmas |