Puerto Vallarta, Mexico - Christmas is a time to get together with family and friends to celebrate, but in Mexico, the holiday season is really all about eating. Any self-respecting Mexican Christmas celebration will include more food and drinks than you know what to do with - along with an almost uncomfortable feeling of fullness that last at least a week!

Many of the dishes enjoyed on Christmas and New Years have been prepared for hundreds of years and have a strong cultural meaning for Mexican people. For those who are unfamiliar with traditional Mexican holiday dishes, here is a little bit about each food's history and significance in Mexican culture.

Tamales

The tamale is believed to have originated around 7000-5000 B.C. when women traveled with men during war and made masa for the soldiers. However, more recent recordings show that tamales similar to modern tamales, masa stuffed with different fillings, appeared around the 1550s when the Aztecs served tamales to the Spanish during their visit to Mexico. Today's tamales are usually made of a corn masa and stuffed with beef, chicken, pork, corn or rajas and can even include sweet varieties like fruit or raisins and cinnamon. The tamales are then wrapped in a corn husk and steamed. Traditionally, the women of the family will gather together days ahead of the holidays to make tamales as a group, and tamale recipes are passed down from generation to generation and stay in families for hundreds of years.

Pozole

Pozole is a very labor intensive, hearty Mexican stew that takes almost an entire day to cook, however trust us when we say the flavor is worth the time. According to Aztec history, on special occasions after a ritual sacrifice, the bodies which had been sacrificed were cooked with maize and used as the meat in pozole. While today’s pozole definitely does not contain human flesh, the ancient Aztec traditions of preparation are still used today. Pozole can either have a white, green or red broth with different spices giving it its unique flavor and color. The stew is also traditionally made with pieces of tender pork and hominy and can be topped with chopped cabbage, radishes, lime or cilantro depending on personal preference. Pozole is also a great cure for those killer New Year's Eve hangovers.

Chile en Nogada

The story behind this dish is just as unique as the combination of ingredients used in making it. According to ancient stories, the dish was created when nuns in Puebla, Mexico needed something to serve to Agustin de Iturbide when he returned to Puebla after signing the Declaration of Independence of Mexico. They combined the unique ingredients of poblano peppers stuffed with a mixture of meats and fruits, a white creamy walnut sauce and bright red pomegranate seeds to represent the colors of the Mexican flag and Mexico's newfound independence. The dish is only prepared during times of the year when pomegranates are ripe, therefore its unique flavor and delicate ingredients make it one of the most special dishes of Mexican cuisine.

Rosca de Reyes - "Three Kings Bread"

Made for Las Posadas in late December or Día de los Santos Reyes on January 6th, this sweet holiday bread is shaped like a wreath and decorated with candied figs, lemon, cherries, and mango. A little baby Jesus doll is baked into the bread and whoever gets the piece of bread with the doll in it has to provide food for the next party which is for Candelaria or Candlemas on February 2nd.

Whether you're celebrating Christmas in Mexico or want to host a Mexican-inspired Christmas dinner, these recipes will make a big impression on anyone who is lucky enough to share them with you:

Puebla Style Eggnog - Rompope

This beverage was first made by the colonial-era nuns at the Convent of Santa Clara in Puebla, and the Santa Clara brand is still one of the most popular. It is fun and very easy to make at home. Unlike north-of-the-border eggnog, rompope already contains alcohol, although in a small proportion, so it does not require the addition of rum or brandy, as is the custom in the US.

Ingredients
• 2 quarts milk
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 2 cinnamon sticks
• 2 cups sugar
• 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• 12 egg yolks, beaten
• 1 cup grain alcohol or 2 cups rum

In a large saucepan, bring the milk to a boil with the baking soda and cinnamon. Remove from heat and allow to cool. Boil again, remove from heat, and cool again.

Stir in sugar, vanilla, and beaten egg yolks. Return mixture to the heat and simmer over a medium flame, stirring constantly, until the bottom of the pan can be seen when stirring. Remove from heat and allow to cool. Stir in grain alcohol or rum.

Makes 8-12 servings

Mexican Christmas Cookies - Galletas de Navidad

Both blackberry and apricot jam are produced in great quantity in late summer and enjoyed during the cooler months, especially in the Sierra Madre region, where fruit orchards abound. Either one may be used in these cookies.

Ingredients
• 1 1/2 cups butter, softened
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 3 cups flour
• 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 4 eggs, separated
• 3/4 cup sugar
• juice of 1 lime
• 2 1/2 cups fruit preserves
• 1/2 cup Grand Marnier
• 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar
• 3/4 cup chopped walnuts

Mix the butter, sugar, and flour until well blended. Add the vanilla and egg yolks and mix until a large ball can be formed.

Knead the dough 4 to 5 minutes, dust with flour, cover with plastic and refrigerate 30 minutes to 1 hour.

Preheat oven to 350ºF. Grease two cookie sheets.

Beat the egg whites until stiff, lower mixer speed and gradually sugar and the lime juice. Beat for 1 minute, until the mixture is shiny.

On a large, floured surface roll out the dough. Transfer it to the greased cookie sheets and continue to roll out until very thin.

Combine the preserves and the Grand Marnier, then spread the mixture over the dough. Cover the preserves with the beaten egg white mixture and sprinkle with confectioners' sugar and chopped walnuts.

Bake for 45-60 minutes or until egg whites are golden brown and crispy. Remove from oven, allow to cool and cut into squares. Makes about 2 1/2 dozen.

If you're in Mexico for Christmas, be sure to sample these festive dishes, and if you can't be in Mexico for the holidays, you can add a Mexican touch to your celebrations by including some of these traditional foods. I only recommend that you wear your fat pants if you are planning to indulge like a real Mexican.