#_____ La Navidad en México
Starts on Dec. 16 with las Posadas.
Las Posadas: as soon as it gets dark a child dressed as an angel leads the procession or parade. 2 children carry figurines of Mary & Joseph. Other children follow behind with the adults and finally the musicians bring up the rear. Everyone carries a candle. The children play shrill whistles. When they reach the house agreed upon for that night, the group divides into 2, with half representing Joseph & Mary and the other half representing the innkeepers. After repeatedly asking for shelter and being denied they are let in to the house. Everyone kneels to pray. Then everyone moves to the patio for fireworks and fun. Small baskets of sweets called colaciones are offered. After eating the piñata is broken. Las Posadas occurs for 9 nights. The last night is Nochebuena or Christmas Eve. This Posada is more impressive. 2 people act as the godparents of the baby Jesus and place him in the crib in the nacimiento. The godparents will host the get together on January 6.
un nacimiento: the nativity.
Navidad: On December 25 there will be bells, whistles and firecrackers heard.
El día de los inocentes: December 28 is the equivalent of our April Fool’s Day.
January 5: children put their shoes out with straw for the camels.
January 6: el día de los tres reyes, children receive their presents from the 3 Kings.
The gifts are placed by their shoes.
La rosca de reyes: ring shaped cake, whoever has the piece with a small doll in
it will host the party on February 2.
February 2: el día de la Candelaria or Candlemas. A party is held at which the nativity
is put away after the baby is dressed. There will be fireworks, games, and food.
The poinsettia is Mexico’s gift to the world. It is called la flor de la Noche Buena.
#____ La Navidad en España
Trees are put on balconies outside the house.
Santa is common in cities or with families that travel a lot.
More religious in countryside than in cities.
Exchange Christmas cards.
Make own nativity scene.
December 24 & 25 time is spent with family.
December 24: pardon/amnesty is given to prisoners. People will visit hospitals. A light
is put in window to guide the Christ child home. They will eat between 9-10 pm
and then attend a midnight mass called la Misa del gallo or Mass of the Rooster’s
Crow.
December 25: They put the baby in the manger and light a candle. Some gifts may be
exchanged. Special foods that may be eaten for a big lunch are: roast turkey or
roast capon, stuffing (but they use less bread than we do), marzipan (almonds,
sugar, eggs), puchero olla (chicken, beef, mutton, bacon, pigs’ feet & garlic),
cochinillo-suckling pig, turrón- a dessert, roasted chestnuts, and toasted
almonds.
May attend 1 of 3 masses held during the day.
December 28: Feast of the Holy Innocents is like an April Fool’s Day. Originally this
day was a sad day because it was to remember all of the male babies that Herod
had killed.
December 31: as each chime strikes 12 a.m. people will eat a grape or raisin, so by the
last chime 12 grapes or raisins have been eaten.
January 1: around 5/6 am people will go and have chocolate y churros.
January 5: the children will go outside to look for the 3 Kings, but they never find them
so they eat the cakes that they had taken to give the 3 Kings. They put out
straw, food, and water for the 3 Kings’ animals and leave their shoes to be filled
by the 3 Kings. The shoes are placed outside on the balcony.
Cabalgatas: a festive and showy parade that brings the Kings to town in
grand fashion is very common in large Spanish cities.
January 6: sometimes the wealthy will go around to the homes of the poor and place
gifts by their shoes.
This is the day for opening gifts.
Roscón: a fruitcake with a tiny toy is eaten. Whoever gets the toy is said to
receive good luck for the year.
Starts on Dec. 16 with las Posadas.
Las Posadas: as soon as it gets dark a child dressed as an angel leads the procession or parade. 2 children carry figurines of Mary & Joseph. Other children follow behind with the adults and finally the musicians bring up the rear. Everyone carries a candle. The children play shrill whistles. When they reach the house agreed upon for that night, the group divides into 2, with half representing Joseph & Mary and the other half representing the innkeepers. After repeatedly asking for shelter and being denied they are let in to the house. Everyone kneels to pray. Then everyone moves to the patio for fireworks and fun. Small baskets of sweets called colaciones are offered. After eating the piñata is broken. Las Posadas occurs for 9 nights. The last night is Nochebuena or Christmas Eve. This Posada is more impressive. 2 people act as the godparents of the baby Jesus and place him in the crib in the nacimiento. The godparents will host the get together on January 6.
un nacimiento: the nativity.
Navidad: On December 25 there will be bells, whistles and firecrackers heard.
El día de los inocentes: December 28 is the equivalent of our April Fool’s Day.
January 5: children put their shoes out with straw for the camels.
January 6: el día de los tres reyes, children receive their presents from the 3 Kings.
The gifts are placed by their shoes.
La rosca de reyes: ring shaped cake, whoever has the piece with a small doll in
it will host the party on February 2.
February 2: el día de la Candelaria or Candlemas. A party is held at which the nativity
is put away after the baby is dressed. There will be fireworks, games, and food.
The poinsettia is Mexico’s gift to the world. It is called la flor de la Noche Buena.
#____ La Navidad en España
Trees are put on balconies outside the house.
Santa is common in cities or with families that travel a lot.
More religious in countryside than in cities.
Exchange Christmas cards.
Make own nativity scene.
December 24 & 25 time is spent with family.
December 24: pardon/amnesty is given to prisoners. People will visit hospitals. A light
is put in window to guide the Christ child home. They will eat between 9-10 pm
and then attend a midnight mass called la Misa del gallo or Mass of the Rooster’s
Crow.
December 25: They put the baby in the manger and light a candle. Some gifts may be
exchanged. Special foods that may be eaten for a big lunch are: roast turkey or
roast capon, stuffing (but they use less bread than we do), marzipan (almonds,
sugar, eggs), puchero olla (chicken, beef, mutton, bacon, pigs’ feet & garlic),
cochinillo-suckling pig, turrón- a dessert, roasted chestnuts, and toasted
almonds.
May attend 1 of 3 masses held during the day.
December 28: Feast of the Holy Innocents is like an April Fool’s Day. Originally this
day was a sad day because it was to remember all of the male babies that Herod
had killed.
December 31: as each chime strikes 12 a.m. people will eat a grape or raisin, so by the
last chime 12 grapes or raisins have been eaten.
January 1: around 5/6 am people will go and have chocolate y churros.
January 5: the children will go outside to look for the 3 Kings, but they never find them
so they eat the cakes that they had taken to give the 3 Kings. They put out
straw, food, and water for the 3 Kings’ animals and leave their shoes to be filled
by the 3 Kings. The shoes are placed outside on the balcony.
Cabalgatas: a festive and showy parade that brings the Kings to town in
grand fashion is very common in large Spanish cities.
January 6: sometimes the wealthy will go around to the homes of the poor and place
gifts by their shoes.
This is the day for opening gifts.
Roscón: a fruitcake with a tiny toy is eaten. Whoever gets the toy is said to
receive good luck for the year.