Punta de Mita Mothers day in Punta Mita, Punta(de)Mita and El Anclote 2006

Christmas is celebrated almost all over the world, Mexico celebrates with its own special style in a variety of activities that span from December 16th to January 6th. To prepare for Christmas day Mexico has "Posadas". These celebrations are a "Novena" or nine days before the 24th. which is "Noche Buena" or the "Holy Night".

Perhaps the best known manifestation of the Christmas spirit in Mexico are the traditional Posadas. One is held each night on the nine days between December 16th and Christmas eve. The Posadas are a re-enactment of Saint Joseph and the Virgin Mary's pilgrimage seeking a place to stay and give birth to the baby Jesus. A group of people carrying candles visits several homes asking for lodging with a traditional question and response song. The people inside the first two homes refuse them, and at the third one the group is invited inside. The more religious festivities may include prayer, but most often the event becomes a party. For the adults there is always "Ponche con Piquete" which is a hot beverage or "Punch" made out of seasonal fruits and cinnamon sticks, with a shot of alcohol.

The origin of the Posadas is said to date back to 1587, when Friar Diego de Soria, in the monastery of Acolman, obtained a Papal Bull from Pope Sixtus V to celebrate "Aguinaldo" or Christmas gift masses from December 16th through the 24th in New Spain. As part of the evangelization process, these masses, held in the church atriums, were interspersed with scenes alluding to Christmas. To attract a crowd, the Augustinian missionaries used sparklers, fireworks, Christmas carols and piñatas.

The Piñata is a must at Posada time. There are several stories regarding its origin. Many people say that it is derived from the Italian custom of giving out clay pots of gifts during lent or carnival - pignatta means pot in Italian. Probably the name is derived from this, but there are also similar Pre-Hispanic customs. A clay pot was decorated to look like a cloud for some of the rites honoring Tlaloc, the Rain God. When it was broken, it would shower down food and good things to the ground, much as the rain brought crops and flowers to the people.

Nowadays, the piñata is a game enjoyed by children and grownups alike. It is usually filled with fruits, nuts and candies; sometimes small toys are added. The piñata has become another wonderful expression of Mexican folk art. Figures ranging from the traditional Star of Bethlehem to action figures based on hit international films are hand crafted with great skill and ingenuity.

Poinsettias are beautiful red flowers which have become a symbol of Christmas and are native to Mexico. In Náhuatl they were called Cuitlaxochitl or star flowers, and in Spanish they are known as Noche Buena or Christmas eve. The English name of Poinsettia was adopted in honor of a US diplomat named Joel Poinsett, who took cuttings back to North Carolina with him after his stay in Mexico, and began cultivating them in the United States.

Christmas itself is usually celebrated on Christmas eve here in Mexico with a midnight mass and a late dinner. Modern influences have introduced the Christmas tree and Santa Claus. The New Year is welcomed in with a big party, and tradition calls for each guest to eat a grape with each tolling of the church bell at midnight to sweeten the twelve months to come.