| | |  Entertainment | December 2008 
Mexico’s Holiday Season Lasts Well Into 2009
 The Log
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Starting with the Virgin of Guadalupe Day, Dec. 12, Mexico’s winter calendar is full of cultural holidays that many may never have experienced.
Most of the street parades are religious in nature, but most of the parties are not — with the exception of Las Posadas celebrations. Don’t expect business as usual on Monday mornings following holidays, dubbed “San Lunes,” when some offices are functioning slower than normal.
This is not the time for major provisioning in Mexico’s big cities, because the grocery stores will be jammed. If you must buy a Christmas tree (typically trucked down from Oregon) or a string of lights in Mexico, realize that they will be expensive — and not easy to find outside larger cities.
In Mexico, the holiday season is not about Santa Claus. However, there is much to enjoy.
At pleasureboat marinas and yachting ports throughout the country, locals have grown to love the annual parades of lighted yachts, pangas and shrimpers. Boat parades are expected this year at Ensenada, Cabo San Lucas, San Jose del Cabo, La Paz, San Carlos, Mazatlan, Puerto Vallarta, Barra de Navidad, Zihuatanejo, Acapulco and Huatulco. If you plan to join in the fun on the water, don’t forget to bring a portable generator, extension cords and your own strings of lights.
Here are Mexico’s major seasonal holiday celebrations, which continue through January:
Dec. 12: The Virgin of Guadalupe Day celebrates Mexico’s patron saint, with parades in which statues are carried around the church and town plaza, followed by celebrations with food.
Dec. 16-Jan. 6: Las Posadas, re-enactments of Joseph and Mary’s search for shelter in Bethlehem, feature candlelight processions visiting several homes. Participants sing a traditional song, are turned away at several stops, and then finally are welcomed inside, where they will find a nativity scenario and plenty of food.
Dec. 24: Noche Buena or Christmas Eve usually features a family gathering, and it is more popularly celebrated than Christmas Day. In southern Mexico, special tamales are eaten for the midnight feast. Dos Equis makes a special beer called Noche Buena, which is available only for Christmas.
Dec. 25: Dia de Navidad or Christmas Day is a time when just about everyone attends a religious service.
Dec. 31-Jan. 1: Año Nuevo or New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day starts with an evening feast that includes lots of toasts, and there are generally fireworks. At midnight, the church bells ring and everyone eats a grape. The food and libations continue throughout New Year’s Day.
Jan. 6: Dia de los Santos Reyes or Day of the Kings is symbolic of the arrival of the three wise men. This is the day when gifts are exchanged. Celebrants enjoy a special bread called Rusco de los Reyes, which contains a figurine of the baby Jesus.
Jan. 17: Fiesta de San Antonio de Abad is a day when pets and farm animals are blessed inside churches and in processions through the plaza. |
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