When we think of Christmas, we think of evergreen trees, snow, and winter. But in much of Mexico, the weather is warm in December. The Mexicans have different Christmas weather and different Christmas customs, too.
Part of the Mexican Christmas are the rituals called the Posadas, or “resting places,” which recall the journey of Mary and Joseph from Nazareth to Bethlehem. The Posadas begin on December 16. A group of nine families meets at a different house on each of the next nine nights, carrying candles to reenact the search of Mary and Joseph for a resting place during their journey. The candle-bearers’ stop in the doorway of each room and ask for entry. At the last room, they do enter and sing Christmas songs.
Another part of Mexican Christmas is the pinata, a clay container filled with gifts and decorated with pieces of colored paper to resemble animals or birds. The pinata is hung from a ceiling or post, and children take turns trying to break open the pinata with long sticks, while they’re blindfolded! When the pinata breaks, the children gather the candy and money that fall to the ground.
