Felix Navidad! Here in Mexico, one of, if not the biggest holiday is Christmas Day. Well, it's practically one of the biggest holidays in all of the world so it'd make sense if it's just as grand here in this beautiful Central American country. And as you probably already know, Mexicans don't hold back when it comes to celebrating They put on the grandest fiestas you'll probably ever see in your whole life. So the way they celebrate Christmas is quite something. Fortunately, a handful of their holiday traditions are easy enough to do at home. Here are a few you'd want to do too!
Singing Villancicos
Of course, as with any other
fiesta, music is an absolute must! And what type of music should you expect during this time of year? Christmas Carols! Or how the Mexicans call it, '
Villancicos!' Is it really a surprise that singing Christmas carols is common in Mexico? Nope! If a mariachi band is as much a noteworthy feature of Mexican culture, surely singing Christmas carols during the holidays is too! What's interesting is many of their villancicos are Spanish translations of famous carols. '
Noche de Paz,' for instance, is the Spanish version of 'Silent Night.' And so on and so forth!
Source: Wikimedia Commons
Putting Out The Nacimientos
A nativity scene is
pretty much a universal part of Christmas among Roman Catholic countries. You'll see it in France, in Spain, in Italy, in the Philippines, and, of course, in Mexico too! In fact, the way they 'decorate' theirs, called '
Nacimientos,' has some religious meaning to it too! For instance, while other countries will simply put out the Holy Family for the Nativity scene, Mexicans would only include Mother Mary and St. Joseph initially. Then, during midnight mass on Christmas Eve, they bring out Baby Jesus. And a few days later, on '
Día de Reyes,' they put out the Three Wise Men.
Source: Wikimedia Commons
Gathering The Family for Noche Buena
Oftentimes, the biggest gathering for Mexican families to do during this season is on Christmas Eve. They hold what they call '
Noche Buena,' which is essentially just the Spanish translation of Christmas Eve. While other countries hold their main Christmas feasts on Christmas Day itself, the Mexicans prioritize the night of the 24th just as much. In fact, since Santa Claus isn't as big a figure here as in the US or Canada, kids get their presents straight away on
Noche Buena. They don't wait for any mystical figure to leave their presents under the Christmas tree. They open them right then and there, the moment the clock strikes 12!
Source: Wikimedia Commons
Hearing Mass on Christmas Eve
You've probably already guessed it, during Noche Buena, a midnight mass is one of, if not the most important part! Mexicans are extremely religious people, so apart from the commercialized idea that other countries have made Christmas out to be, they still deem it as a solemn and very significant holy day. It's the day of Christ's birth, after all! And every Christmas Eve, right before the clock strikes midnight, they hold a late-night mass devoted to the newborn Christ. As mentioned earlier, this is when they finally reveal the Baby Jesus and include him in the
nacimientos.
Source: Wikimedia Commons
Preparing and Serving Buñuelos
As with France, the US, Italy, and more, sweets are a must in any Christmas celebration in Mexico. And one particular sweet, '
buñuelos,' take center stage on the Mexican Christmas table. Essentially just little donuts sprinkled with sugar (either white or powdered), they're the perfect treats to give to your loved ones in this season of giving. It helps that they're made as tiny fried dough munchkins, allowing most, if not all, to enjoy one per batch. And they're perfect to go with coffee, hot chocolate, warm tea, and more! Who knew Mexican holiday cuisine can get so sweet?
Source: Wikimedia Commons
Celebrating Día de Reyes Afterward
Finally, though it's observed a few days after December 25, celebrating '
Día de Reyes,' is still a common Christmas tradition in Mexico. In English, the holiday is the 'Day of the Three Kings,' pertaining to the Three Wise Men that visited the newborn Christ in Bethlehem. As they are the ones who gave Baby Jesus his first-ever material presents, it's customary that kids also receive all sorts of goodies and presents on this holiday as well. More often than not, they regard the Three Kings like Santa Claus, even to the point that people would dress up as the Three Kings and kids will whisper to them what they want for Christmas.
Source: Wikimedia Commons
As fun as it would have been to celebrate Christmas in Mexico, that doesn't mean you still can't have a Mexican Christmas wherever you are in the world. You're lucky that a good number of their holiday traditions can be done at home too!
Mexican luxury homes would make the perfect venues for celebrating Christmas in Mexico. If you're already there, rent one out! Even if it's just for the holidays!
