Feliz Navidad
Poinsettia~ El Flor de Noche Buena
Origins
The original Nahuatl name for the plant we call “poinsettia” is cuetlaxochitl (kwet-la-sho-she), cultivated by the Aztecs long before the European colonization of the Americas. The Aztecs used cuetlaxochitl for a variety of purposes, including decoration and the production of red and purple dyes, as well as for medicines derived from the plant’s milky white sap...
The timing of the annual bloom for wild cuetlaxochitl began the plant’s association with the Christmas season during the 16th century, when missionaries spread the Catholic faith through the indigenous communities of Mexico.
Legend has it....
Local legend tells of a young poor girl named Pepita, who was on her way to church on Christmas Eve. Realizing she had forgotten an offering, Pepita gathered a humble bouquet of roadside weeds as a gift for the newborn Jesus. When Pepita placed the bouquet at the base of the altar, the weeds burst into the colorful blooms of the cuetlaxochitl. The plant subsequently came to be called la flor de Nochebuena, literally “the Christmas Eve flower,” or simply “the Christmas flower.”
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Christmas Carols~ Villancicos
Las Posadas-
In Mexico over 9 evenings until Christmas Eve, a group of singers called “peregrinos (pilgrims)” reenact Mary and Joseph’s search for room in an inn. They go to different homes, and the “posaderos (innkeepers)” sing call and response with the carolers. After singing all verses, the peregrinos enter the home, where they all sing together
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Mi Burrito Sabanero
Contrary to what one might think, “Mi burrito sabanero” is not an old song.
Venezuelan composer Hugo Blanco wrote it in 1975.
It is by far one of the most beloved Spanish Christmas carols around the world.
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Dec 12~ The Virgin of Guadalupe
Origins
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Day of the Virgin of Guadalupe is a story of miracles and faith that marks an important shift in the history of Mexico. The Spaniards wanted to convert the indigenous Indians to Catholicism. The Mexicans, however had their own faith and spirituality in which they strongly believed. Indigenous people started to become fascinated with Catholicism with the story of the Virgin of Guadalupe and Juan Diego.
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Legend has it....
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Juan Diego was a young indigenous Indian who was walking toward the Hill of Tepeyac on December 12, 1531, when he was stopped by an appearance of the Virgin Mary. According to Diego, the Virgin Mary was a young woman with black hair and dark skin who looked more like the women in his community. She ordered Diego to go to the Bishop and ask him to build a church at the Hill of Tepeyac. Diego then ran to the Bishop to tell him what the Virgin Mary had told him. The Bishop did not believe Diego at first and disregarded his request to build a church at the Hill of Tepeyac.
The Virgin Mary appeared in front of Diego again and told him to collect flowers from the top of the hill. Since it was December, Diego knew that there would not be any flowers at the rocky hill. Upon reaching the top of the hill, he was surprised to see that it was covered in beautiful, colorful flowers! He remembered what he was asked to do and collected the flowers in his coat.
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With the flowers in hand, he went to see the Bishop again. Diego gave the coat full of flowers to the Bishop, and here the Bishop discovered the image of the Virgin Mary was miraculously traced on the coat. Seeing both the unseasonal flowers and the image of the Virgin, the Bishop realized Diego had told him the truth. The Bishop commanded that the Basilica of the Virgin of Guadalupe be built on the hill of Tepeyac in Mexico City.
Día de Reyes
~January 6~
"Three Kings Day"
celebrates the visit of the three kings to the newborn Christ child. This is the day when people on Mexico usually give gifts, though the gift-giving is not as important as the religious celebrations or time spent with the family.
The "Rosca de Reyes" is a traditional Mexican sweet bread eaten on January 6th, also known as "Día de Reyes" (Three Kings Day), which commemorates the day the Three Wise Men brought gifts to baby Jesus, symbolizing the crown of the kings with its circular shape and the hidden small plastic baby figurine representing the newborn Jesus; whoever finds the baby in their slice is traditionally responsible for hosting a party on "Día de la Candelaria" (February 2nd) to share tamales.
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