Feliz Navidad from the Baja Insider
Here in Baja California Mexico, the Christmas season really
begins with the first day of “Posadas” commencing on the 16th of December.
The festivities will continue on through, till the last day of Christmas
known as the Epiphany or Three Kings day, January 6th.
The Posadas generally begin as candlelight processions
which then end into all night fiestas that continue on for nine days until
Christmas. In many areas of Mexico they still re-enact the Holy families
search for food and lodging in Bethlehem on each of these days.
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The Mexicans also create el Nacimiento (nativity scenes) in most towns
as well as in many houses with the Holy Family, Reyes del Magio (3 wise
men), angles and animals in a manger. With Baby Jesus always being placed
in the manger on Christmas Eve or Noche Buena as it is called in Mexico.
Interestingly, in the past it was the Three Wise Men that
children would write their wish list to in hopes of receiving their gifts
on the 6th of January, Dia de los Reyes (Three Kings Day). The children
historically would leave out their shoes on the 5th of January with hay
for the camels so the Wise Men would favor their wishes and leave them
their gifts.
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While you will not see as many Christmas trees, as in the other parts
of the world there are many more that there were just a few years ago.
Only a few years a go, the traditional Baja California Christmas tree
was the dried skeleton remains of the century plants stem and flower.
Painting these tree shaped stalks gold or silver and hanging decorations
from the branches was very common to see.
 Nowadays
with the major shopping centers selling fresh cut trees from the north
you can have a real pine tree for your home. You will also find these
days many of the same Christmas decorations you would find all over the
U.S. You will also encounter a great deal of Poinsettias available here
in Baja California. That is because the “Flor
del Noche Buena” originally came from mainland Mexico and has been
used to celebrate Christmas for many years. Click here for additional
article on Flor del Noche Buena.
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Here in Baja California the Mexicans seem to do most of their gift opening
on Christmas day there are many that still prefer to open some of or all
of their gifts on Dia de los Reyes.
Another tradition for the Dia del los Reyes is the eating
of the “Rosca de Reyes” a sweetbread cake, ring shaped, like bunt a cake,
with small bits of fruit and candy inside. One of the special traditions
in eating this cake is that there is a small plastic doll that represents
baby Jesus that is hidden for one to find.
The one that receives the baby is responsible for giving
a party and has to make the tamales for the Fiesta de la Candelaria on
February 2. This is to be considered the last party of the Christmas season.
Leave it to the Mexicans to stretch Christmas to over 3 months of fiestas!
Feliz Navidad y Prospero Ano Nuevo
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