(Christmas in Mexico) p.4 (Cultura) La Navidad en México (Christmas in Mexico) p.4 (Cultura) ©MFL Sunderland 2006 http://www.sunderlandschools.org/mfl-sunderland

Las actividades navideñas empiezan el 16 de diciembre y duran hasta el 6 de enero. chunti

LAS POSADAS (Inn)

Las Posadas- Son unas celebraciones del viaje (journey) de José y la Virgen María. Las posadas son recreaciones (recreation) del viaje de ellos a Belén cuando estaban tratando de buscar una posada (inn/hotel). La Celebración- Cada familia en un barrio (neighborhood) se turna una noche y celebra con una posada en su casa cantando canciones; empiezan el 16 de diciembre y terminan el 24 en la Noche Buena. Hay nueve posadas para representar los nueve meses de embarazo de la Virgen María. Chunti. fiestas, which represent Joseph and Mary's arduous pilgrimage on their way to Bethlehem, and there are nine posadas, from the 16 to the 24 of December, because they symbolize Mary's nine months of pregnancy

LA PIÑATA Después de las posadas, sigue la fiesta para los niños. Se les celebra con una Piñata, la cual está llena de cacahuates (maní), caramelos envueltos. El niño trata de romper la piñata con un palo y con los ojos vendados. Chunti.

("Strike it, Strike it, Strike it, You will hear the parents and children singing this song before a child hits the Piñata : "¡Dale,  dale,  dale, no pierdas el tino, porque si lo pierdes, pierdes el camino, Una, dos, tres!"    ("Strike it, Strike it, Strike it, don't lose your aim,   because if you lose it, you won't find your way! One, two, three!" ) Muestra el video

El NACIMIENTO Nativity Scene

EL NACIMIENTO El Nacimiento es una representación del nacimiento de Jesucristo, que se suele exponer durante la Navidad en hogares, iglesias y muchos centros públicos, como escuelas y comercios, etc. Nativity scenes in wood, clay, metal, glass, wax, straw and almost any material you can think of, are another rich expression of popular art

LA FLOR DE NOCHE BUENA (Poinsettias) La Flor de Noche buena es originaria (native/original) de México. he Poinsettia with it’s star shaped green leaves that turn into a deep red at the top, has several names and a very interesting history and legend.  Euphorbia pulcherrima (literally, "the most beautiful Euphorbia") also known as the “Flor del Noche Buena” (see legend) in Mexico, or the “Flame Leaf” in Central America is a favorite of all of theAmericas at Christmas. It is commonly known to many in North America as the Poinsettia, named after Dr. Joel Poinsett, the first United States Ambassador to Mexico. (1825 - 1829) While visiting the Taxco area, in Mexico, where the plant is native, in 1828 he encountered it and fell in love with the flowers. He then shipped some to his own nursery in Greenville, South Carolina where they were given to several others eventually to be grown commercially.    Joel Roberts Poinsett Van Buren Administration (By an unknown artist) Where did it come originally from?  The plant was originally used by the Aztecs and was called “Cuetlaxochitle”. They used the sap from the plants bract to reduce fevers and to make a reddish-purple dye. It is said that Montezuma, the last of the Aztec Kings brought the flowers from Southern Mexico in caravans to Mexico City because it would not grow at the higher altitudes.  The Legend of “Flor de Noche Buena” There is also a wonderful legend in Mexico as to how the flower became used to celebrate Christmas. It begins with a poor girl named Maria or Pepita and her little brother Pablo or cousin Pedro depending on who tells the story. She was very sad, being so poor that she had nothing to give baby Jesus in the manger scene in the Village Church.  On Christmas Eve ( Noche Buena) on the way to the church Maria picked some weeds to make a bouquet to bring to the manger scene. Her little brother said to her “it does not matter what she gives as long as it was given in love”. The children of the village, of course teased them until they saw the plants turn from green to a bright red on top right before their eyes as Maria knelt at the alter. The whole village then realized they had just witnessed a true Christmas miracle and from that day on the plant became known as the “Flor de Noche Buena”.  We here at Baja Insider hope that you too enjoy the miracle of the “Flor de Noche Buena” or Poinsettia and wish you the best for the Holidays.

LA NOCHE BUENA 24th December (Christmas Eve) Celebration of a late-night Misa de Gallo (Rooster's Mass) Modern influences have introduced the Christmas tree and Santa Claus Open gifts at midnight. Everyone hugs and kisses (party till 4 a.m.) Piñatas and luces de Belen (sparklers) Traditional Christmas supper

Tamales (A Mexican dish of seasoned meat wrapped in cornmeal dough and steamed or baked in corn husks.) Pavo (turkey) Mole (a spicy chocolate sauce) . Ponche (a hot fruit punch), Champurrado (hot chocolate) Posole (soup or stew)

La NAVIDAD (Christmas day) A large reunion Around three o’clock in the afternoon, what it is known as “recalentado”, because the Christmas meal is reheated from the previous night

DIA DE REYES (Three Kings Day) El 6 de enero La celebración en la cual los niños reciben los juguete el 6 de enero, "el día de Reyes" o Los Reyes Magos (wise). Fueron los Reyes Magos quienes le llevaron los regalos al Niño Jesús, por consiguiente, son ellos quienes traen los regalos a los niños y a las niñas que se han portado bien. Los niños ponen sus zapatos cerca de la ventana para que los Reyes Magos le pongan el regalo en su zapato. Si el regalo es más grande que el zapato, entonces lo ponen al lado. Varios niños reciben un par de zapatos (calzado) nuevo como regalo. Traditionally in Mexico, Three Kings Day was the gift-giving time, rather than Christmas day. Just as it is common for children to leave cookies for Santa in the U.S., in some regions of Mexico, it was customary for children to leave their shoes out on the night of Jan. 5, often filling them with hay for the camels, in hopes that the Three Kings would be generous. Mexican children would awake on Jan. 6 to find their shoes filled with toys and gifts. Today, many Mexican-American families concentrate their gift-giving around the Christmas holiday, but some still give gifts for both Christmas and Three Kings Day. A popular tradition practiced on Three Kings Day is serving the Rosca de Reyes - a crown-shaped sweet bread decorated with candied fruits to resemble jewels. Before baking, one or more tiny figures of babies - to symbolize the Baby Jesus - are hidden in the dough.  Serving the Rosca de Reyes is a festive occasion, and groups of people, such as families or work groups, gather to partake in the sweet bread. Each person cuts his or her own slice, and as tradition goes, whoever gets a piece containing a baby is obliged to host another party on or before Feb. 2. This date is called El Día de la Candelaria (or Candlemas), and this traditional Christian celebration, also known as the Presentation of the Christ Child, marks the official end of Mexico's Christmas season. \ A Cuban Christmas celebration would not be complete without El Dia de los Reyes Magos (Three Kings Day) on January sixth. Similar to American customs, children would leave food and water, but not for the reindeer -- for the camels. Also, instead of stockings, children would leave their shoes in hopes of receiving new toys. In Tradición, many recall how even the poorest children in Cuba always received a gift from the Three Kings.

“La Rosca de Reyes” (Three Kings Cake) Kings’ Ring La Rosca de Reyes (el 6 de enero) es un pan en forma de una corona, que está hecha con muchos huevos y es muy grande, está cubierta con frutas cristalizadas y azúcar encima, pero adentro hay una figurita de cerámica que representa al Niño Jesús. La persona a la que le toque la pieza del pan con la figurita, tiene que ser el Padrino o la Madrina del Niño Jesús en el Día de la Candelaria, el dos de febrero. Special bread made for the occasion in the form of a crown, decorated with dried fruits and hiding in its midst one or several little dolls The guest who finds the doll (representing the infant Jesus) in their slice of Rosca give a party on February 2nd, Candelaria, with tamales and atole for all. La Rosca de Reyes es un pan en forma de guirnalda que está hecha con muchos huevos y es muy grande, está cubierta con frutas cristalizadas y azúcar encima, pero adentro hay una figurita de cerámica que representa al Niño Jesús. La persona a la que le toque la pieza del pan con la figurita, tiene que ser el Padrino o la Madrina del Niño Jesus en el Día de la Candelaria, el dos de Febrero. El día de la Candelaria es el día de la Luz, el día de la Purificación. Ese día se recoge el Nacimiento con una fiesta organizada por la persona que se sacó el Niño Jesús en la Rosca de Reyes. Dicha persona es responsable por hacerle el Ropón al Niño Jesús. Se acostumbra a celebrar ese día con una cena con Tamales. (Los tamales son un platillo típico de México que se hace con masa de maíz y se rellenan con carnes en salsa o con pasitas y se le agrega azúcar para hacerlos dulces y se envuelven con las hojas del elote). Presentation of Christ at the Temple: February 2nd also falls forty days after Christmas, and is celebrated by Catholics as the "Feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin" or as the "Presentation of the Lord." According to Jewish law a woman was considered unclean for 40 days after giving birth so it was customary to bring a baby to the temple after that period of time had passed. So Jesus would have been taken to the temple on February second. Día de la Candelaria: In Mexico this holiday is celebrated as Día de la Candelaria, known as Candlemas in English, because candles were brought to the church to be blessed. In Mexico Día de la Candelaria is a follow-up to the festivities of Kings Day on January 6th, when children receive gifts and families and friends break bread together, specifically Rosca de Reyes, a special sweet bread with figurines hidden inside. The person (or people) who received the figurines on Kings Day are supposed to host the party on Candlemas Day. Tamales are the food of choice.

Los Santos Inocentes (Spanish Speaking Countries) December 28th is a day of practical jokes in most Spanish speaking countries, it is similar to what we in the USA celebrate on April Fool’s Day. Dia de los Santos Inocentes –Day of the Holy Innocents is a religious holiday named in honor of the young children who were slaughtered by order of King Herod around the time of Jesus’ birth. These young victims were called Santos Inocentes or “Holy Innocents” because they were too young and innocent to have committed any sins. Today most Spanish children play simple pranks like putting salt in the sugar bowl or sticking paper cut-outs on people's backs. These little practical jokes are called Inocentadas. However, unusual celebrations stemming from ancient traditions continue to be held, such as the “Flour Battle” that takes place in Spain.

Puerto Rico Attend a Misa de Aguinaldo From December 15-24, churches conduct misas de aguinaldo (present/ Christmas carol), masses held at dawn featuring the singing of aguinaldos (Christmas carols), which are Puerto Rican versions of Christmas Carols. Catch a Parranda A parranda (to go out on the town or to go out partying). It is basically a group of people or carolers, who will travel around the neighborhood singing aguinaldos (Christmas carols). Parrandas get going in late November and can still be found in January.

La Noche Buena Christmas Eve trumps Christmas Day for most Puerto Ricans. This is when a typical Puerto Rican Christmas dinner is served. lechón (roast pork), The traditional Christmas dessert is tembleque, which is a kind of custard with coconut, cornstarch, vanilla, and cinnamon. Instead of eggnog, you’ll have coquito, or coconut nog After dinner, many Puerto Ricans attend a midnight mass known as the Misa de Gallo or “Rooster’s Mass.” You might just catch a live reenactment of the nativity scene. Christmas Eve trumps Christmas Day for most Puerto Ricans. This is when a typical Puerto Rican Christmas dinner is served, consisting of lechón (roast pork), pasteles (patties), and arroz con gandules (rice ‘n beans). The traditional Christmas dessert is tembleque, which is a kind of custard with coconut, cornstarch, vanilla, and cinnamon. Instead of eggnog, you’ll have coquito, or coconut nog. And after dinner, many Puerto Ricans attend a midnight mass known as the Misa de Gallo or “Rooster’s Mass.” You might just catch a live reenactment of the nativity scene.

“Three Kings Day” Collect Grass for the Camels On the night before January 6, Three Kings Day, Puerto Rican children collect grass and place it in a shoebox under their beds for the Three Kings' Camels to eat. (The Kings themselves don't get a plate of cookies or a glass of warm milk.) chunti Celebrate Three Kings Day The grand finale of the season for most of the island is El Día de los Tres Reyes Magos (wise), or "Three Kings Day." This day is marked with a large celebration in San Juan, and children can go to La Fortaleza, the governor's mansion, to receive free gifts. chunti

Eat Your Grapes (uvas) New Year's Eve in Puerto Rico is appropriately called Año Viejo, or "Old Year," and it's a fun time to be outside; fireworks, and honking cars. At the stroke of midnight, local tradition demands that you eat 12 grapes (uvas) for luck. You'll also find some people sprinkling sugar outside their house for good luck or throwing a bucket of water out the window to expel all the negatives of the old year and get ready for a fresh start. As for where to be when the clock strikes 12, head to the Puerto Rico Convention Center for the fireworks show. They also do this in some parts of Mexico. Mexico celebrates with fireworks and grapes as well. They call it el año nuevo

Cuba Cuba became an atheist nation in 1962, when Fidel Castro decided that celebrating it was interfering with the sugar harvest. Accordingly, it was dropped from the Cuban calendar of holidays in 1969 as the island strove for a record sugar harvest. Cuban authorities banned the public display of Christmas trees and nativity scenes, other than in places frequented by tourists, such as hotels. But in 1997, President Castro restored the holiday to honor, in the honor of the visit of Pope John Paul II in the island. Even though it was banned. People secretly celebrated it.

¡FELIZ NAVIDAD Y CHUNTI PRÓSPERO AÑO NUEVO!