Make Merry A Mexican Christmas and Tree!

Church of Saint Servatius decorated with papel picado.

       Christmas festivities in Mexico begin on December 16 and every home is decorated with flowers, evergreens, and colored paper lanterns in preparation for the great day itself. A representation of the Nativity, called the pesebra, is also prepared in each household. 

       Thus begins the posada, which means resting place, and commemorates the journey of Mary and Joseph and their unsuccessful efforts to find a lodging for the night. 

       In some areas a group of villagers assemble and, carrying candles and chanting a song which asks for shelter, they go from door to door. But, of course, they are always told "there is no room." This tradition continues until Christmas Eve.

Colorful and intricate weaving from
 Mexico is often made into ornaments
for a Christmas tree.

       In many homes, the same ceremony is observed without leaving the house. Here part of the group of assembled friends and family members divide into two groups known as the Holy Pilgrims and the Hard-Hearted Innkeepers. Led by a white-clad figure representing an angel, the Pilgrims move through the house chanting, and the Innkeepers respond from a room designated as the inn. 

       After much coaxing on the part of the Pilgrims, who represent Joseph and Mary, the Innkeepers relent and the whole party kneels before the improvised altar with its pesebra and prayers. 

       Following this religious custom, a party is held with much singing, dancing, and games for the children. One of the features of this party is the traditional piñata. This is a large earthenware jar (olla) which has been fashioned especially for the occasion. It is disguised by means of paper and other decorative materials to look like a rooster, a bull, a clown's face, or whatever the maker may fancy. Inside the jar are nuts, fruit, and candy. 

       This is then suspended by a long rope from the ceiling and each child in turn is blindfolded, turned around a few times to confuse his sense of direction, and then given three chances to break the piñata with a stick. Since one end of the rope is controlled by an adult, there is considerable wild swinging to build up the excitement as the children flail away, but finally a lucky hit is made, the piñata shatters, and pandemonium results as everyone scrambles to pick up the goodies which have showered down. 

Lupita Dolls often decorate a Christmas tree.

       As in Spain, the children receive their presents on the Epiphany. 

       Mexico's contribution to Christmas in America is a flower - the poinsettia. It is known in Mexico as the Flor de la Noche Buena, "the flower of the Holy Night," and there are several stories about its origin.

       One is that a young girl, separated from her lover, died of a broken heart on Christmas Eve, and the blood drops which fell to the earth became the flower. 

      Another version is that as the people hurried to midnight Mass in the village church, carrying great armfuls of beautiful flowers to decorate the altars, they passed a small girl who inquired where they were going. On being told they were on their way to pay their respects to the Infant Jesus and that it was necessary to bring a gift of flowers, the little girl was heartbroken that she could not join them. But as her tears dropped to the earth, they were transformed into flowers of flame, which she gathered and brought to the Baby Jesus. 

A traditional Mexican tree would have a wide variety of brilliantly colored baubles!

Ornament Types in Mexico:

• Characters from the Bible/Nativity story
• poinsettia or Christmas flowers - felt poinsettia craft, a cardboard 'quilled' poinsettia
• piñatas shaped with into traditional Christmas symbols
• papel picado - colorful paper cut-outs
• Mexican tin ornaments called "hojalata" or "lamina"
• Paper mache ''angelito" (angels)
• handwoven Mexican stars and pompom ornaments - stars woven with threads, star woven with yarn here
• Oaxacan Jicara ornaments
• floral painted gourds 
• LeLe Mexican Dolls made from paper mache
• Sarape hats and stockings
• mini sombreros
• woven palm "regalito" streamers
• Guadalupe themed ornaments
• Mexican "milagros" ornaments
• colorful hand embroidered fabric ornaments

Links to Collections and Customs:

• Las posadas mexicanas
• Mexican Themed Tree Ornaments
• Mexican Style Christmas Tree

Dr. Joel Roberts Poinsett.

       The poinsettia was named after Dr. Joel Roberts Poinsett, the first American minister to Mexico, in 1825. Dr. Poinsett was intrigued with these "flame leaves" and sent cuttings to a nurseryman in Philadelphia, where it was named formally Euphorbia poinsettia, later botanically called Poinsettia pulcherrima. Credit for the propagation of the poinsettia in America is given to Albert Ecke, who raised the plant commercially on his farm near Los Angeles. This region in California is now known as the "poinsettia belt" and supplies the entire country with its plants. Several different varieties have been developed by the Ecke family and have been named after Albert and his wife, Henrietta.