Mexican Holiday Traditions

Mexican Holiday Traditions

Mexican Holiday Traditions Overview

Very unique and special holiday tradition in Mexico is the “Posadas”.

Posada is an old Mexican Christmas tradition that gathers family members, friends and neighbors.

It takes place between the 16th and 24th of the December and it can be described as the preparation for the celebration of the Nativity which is the birth of Jesus Christ.

First, each family in the neighborhood schedules a night for the Posada to be held at their house. Then children and the adults take part in acting out the days before the Holy Night when Mother Merry and Joseph were seeking lodging.

They do this by going through the neighborhood and asking for lodging in three different places, houses of shops. After being rejected at two different locations, the third house that is predetermined to have the Posada for that evening will allow them in.

Once inside everybody kneels around the Nativity scene and start praying and singing traditional Christmas songs. After the prayers are said and after thanking God for all the blessings the family had received, including the family reunion, the childrens Piata party can begin.

The Piata is a container made out of cardboard and it is decorated with crape paper in different colors. First, Piata is filled with sugar canes, candy, peanuts, and other special treats that children love. Then it is hung from the ceiling for the children to strike it with the stick while blindfolded.

After several attempts the Piata is broken and the children are very satisfied and occupied with collecting the goodies while the adults enjoy a famous Mexican Punch made out of cinnamon sticks, seasonal fruits and little bit of alcohol.

Another Mexican Christmas tradition is that children receive gifts on the 6th of January on the Day of the Three Kings and not in the Christmas morning or New Years Eve.

Unfortunately, many Mexican holiday traditions are not respected in the Mexican cities and other industrialized parts of Mexico due to the phenomena known as the globalization.

However, there are still many Mexicans in rural parts of Mexico that are very traditional and that preserve traditional Mexican culture.