La Navidad (Christmas)

The Christmas Season in Mexico is a little different as it is a much longer season. It is celebrated from December 12 to February 2. December 12th starts the first “Posada” which is a procession where people travel through the streets and sing and celebrate. The Posadas specifically re-enact Mary and Joseph’s search for an inn on Christmas Eve. Actors dress up and knock on doors and families feed the procession participants.

Children receive their gifts on January 6th (Day of the Epiphany) that are brought by Los Tres Reyes Magos (The Three Kings). On January 5th the night before, families visit local parks and put their wishes into helium balloons and let them go into the sky. Then they wake up to find their presents by the front door next to their shoes.

On January 6th, it is traditional to eat a Rosca de Reyes which is a round ring pastry with a small figurine of baby Jesus baked inside. Whoever gets the piece with the baby is then required to throw a party and serve tamales on February 2nd. This officially ends the Christmas season with a feast to celebrate when baby Jesus was taken to the Temple and officially named.