Christmas is just around the corner, and the celebrations are well underway. Houses are lit up, Christmas music is playing everywhere, and people are shopping for last-minute gifts. Amid all the holiday hustle and bustle, it’s important to make time for your holiday traditions and to spend time with the people you love. Traditions are different for everyone and every family, but there are usually similarities within a common culture. In Mexico, Christmas is a massive holiday and comes with weeks or even months of celebrations. Join the team at your favorite Mexican restaurant as we take a look at some of the most important Christmas traditions in Mexico.
Las Posadas
In Mexico, the Christmas season begins at the beginning of December and continues through February 2nd. In the days leading up to Christmas, from December 16th through 24th, communities come together to celebrate Las Posadas. These are processions through a town that represent Mary and Joseph’s journey to Bethlehem and their search for a place to stay. Participants walk through the streets, singing songs asking their neighbors to let them in. The procession ends at a house chosen to host a party with traditional Christmas food.
Noche Buena
The pinnacle of the Christmas season is Christmas Eve, Noche Buena. Churches celebrate Midnight Mass, called Missa de Gallo (literally, the Mass of the Rooster), and afterward, they return home to enjoy a Christmas feast with their families. Celebrations continue long into the night and often into the next day. Christmas Day is usually a quieter day than Christmas Eve because everyone is exhausted from the night before!
Dia de Los Reyes
January 6th is the feast of Epiphany, called Dia de Los Reyes (Day of the Three Kings) in Mexico. This feast celebrates the arrival of the Three Kings to Bethlehem. Because the Baby Jesus received gifts from the Three Kings, gifts are exchanged again, although usually not as many as on Christmas Eve. Part of the celebration is enjoying Rosca de Reyes (Kings’ Bread). The baker hides a baby figurine inside the bread to represent the Baby Jesus. Whoever finds it has to host the party next year.
Los Primos | Mexican Restaurant in Merrimack.
Take a break from your holiday preparations to enjoy some Mexican food at Los Primos! Spend time with your friends and family at your favorite Mexican restaurant and celebrate the season with us.