What are some other Christmas traditions in Mexico?
Las Posadas is a nine day celebration of lively parties and candlelight processions that begins on Dec. 16th and ends of Christmas Eve. They gather the children to put on plays about Mary, Joseph and Baby Jesus. Then afterwards they have parties with pinatas filled with fruit, sugar cane, peanuts and candies. Another play that is often performed is Las Pastorelas, or Shepard's play. These funny plays tell the story of the angel visiting the shepherds and their journey to find the baby Jesus. They have all kinds of evils and mishaps along the way but they finally make it. In Mexico the Nativity scene or Nacimiento is the main decoration at Christmas time with "baby Jesus" not arriving until Christmas Eve. Speaking of Christmas Eve did you know that in Mexico Nache Buena (The "Good Night") is when they attend a special Church service and then eat their traditional Christmas dinner of Tamales and atole (corn gruel). They follow it with presents and more celebrations. Christmas Day is reserved for resting and eating left overs. They don't rest for long though on Jan. 6th it is Three Kings Day. Mexican children find more gifts left for them by the Three Kings who left gifts for the Baby Jesus. They have parades and more parties. On Three Kings Day the children drink hot chocolate and eat a special sweet bread called Rosca de Rayes " Crown of The Kings"
The crown shaped bread is decorated with candied fruit and a tiny figures of babies are baked into the bread. There is a lot of excitement as each child takes a bite of his bread because whoever finds the baby figure in their slice of bread gets to host the next party. We made our own chocolate caliente to enjoy and then made some to share with friends this Christmas. YUMMY! "Taste and see that The Lord is good." (Psalm 34:8)
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