Category Archives: Mexican Holidays

December 22, 2014 · 3:55 pm

Christmas in México—Poinsettias

poinsetta

Poinsettia gone wild!

Everyone knows that the poinsettia was adopted in the United States as a Christmas decoration when Joel Roberts Poinsett, the first United States Ambassador to Mexico, introduced the plant into the United States in 1825.  So since this weed was so highly esteemed by the neighbors to the north, the Mexican too adopted this plant as a holy Christian symbol. 

However, it was valued prior to Christianity reached the shores of México.  The Poinsettia, or Cuitlaxochitl as it was known in Nahuatl, was used by the pre-Hispanic indigenous people to make clothing dyes.  It was also thought to host the souls of fallen warriors.

Then, during the 17th Century, a group of Franciscan priests settled near Taxco and began to use the poinsettia as decoration in the Fiesta of Santa Pesebre and most likely, in their Christmas celebrations.

A relatively modern story evolved to provide rational for its Christmas use.  There are several versions of this story about, and here is one more.

Once upon a time, a young boy was going to see the image of the Christ child at the altar in the local iglesia (church) on Christmas Eve.  He felt bad that he wasn’t able to bring any gifts to lay at its feet.  As he was walking, he saw a green leafy plant by the side of the road.   Having nothing else to bring, he picked the plant and went inside the church.  When he lay the plant by the image of the baby Jésus, it miraculously changed color.  It’s leaves turned bright red.   He knew his gift from the heart had been well received in heaven. From this day forth, this plant has been called La Flor de la Nochebuena.

Other versions follow the same story line, but the gift is given by a little girl. (The Legend of the Poinsettia)

Some versions of this story have the boy actually giving the plant to the baby Jésus like the Little Drummer Boy rather than visiting a local altar, but that just seems too hokey.  This plant is not native to Bethlehem and how a little Mexican indigenous boy found his way to Israel is beyond explanation, so the stories don’t even try.

However it came about, the NocheBuena is now a firmly entrenched emblem of Christmas in México.
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December 20, 2014 · 2:27 pm

Christmas in México–La Aguinaldo

dino christmas

It is customary for employers to give their employees an aguinaldo (Christmas bonus) the last working day of the year before the official start of the extended Christmas vacation.  By law, the aguinaldo must be paid by December 20.  The amount varies for each employee as it is based on the total number of days worked during the year and the current salary of the employee.  Typically, however, it ends up being about one quicena which is one paycheck when the employee is paid on the 15th and the last day of the month.

Therefore, about the middle to end of December finds the average Mexican temporarily flush with cash.  Of course, this is known to all and results in some extra fleecing by the police in the form of mordidas (bribes).

Last year, my husband went out the first day of vacation to load us up with water so that we wouldn’t have to worry about running out on our days off.  (See Water Woes)  Only he didn’t come home that night.  Needless to say, my son and I were beside ourselves with worry.  He arrived with the truck around 7 a.m. the following day.

It seems what happened was that in El Ojo del Medio de Agua where he was filling our water storage tanks, there was an alleged robbery of a stereo.  The police arrived and searched the truck, my husband and the vehicle and person of another man who was also there filling up water containers.  Not being content at finding nothing of value either in the pockets of the accused or the vehicles, they took both men into custody.  They were taken and held in Yuriria.  My husband didn’t have any cash on him, nor did he have a phone to call me to bring any, plus he hadn’t stolen anything, so did not make the customary mordida (bribe) offer.  The police tried to force him to pay una fianza (bail) before releasing him, but again, he didn’t have any money.

He walked from Yuriria back to where the truck had been left, about 5 miles as the crow flies and drove back home, without a full water load though.

This is not the first time something like this has happened to us around the Christmas season.  The second year we were here, my husband and his brother-in-law were stopped by the police, who had removed any tags that might identify them, although they did not wear capuchis (masks). (See Safety and Security or lack thereof) Even after my husband showed them our permit from the Aduana (customs), his driver’s license, and our marriage certificate, the officers threatened to impound the vehicle.  Between the two of them, they had about $2000 pesos on hand, and that was accepted graciously by said law enforcement with a Merry Christmas to you too.

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December 18, 2014 · 7:10 pm

Christmas in México—La Piñata

A traditional Christmas piñata is a seven pointed star.

A traditional Christmas piñata is a seven pointed star.

The piñata is an integral part of the Christmas season in México.  The traditional piñata is in the form of a 7-pointed star made from a clay pot, although it is more common now to find paper maché piñatas. (Fiesta Star Pinata)Depending on your source, the star represents the Star of Bethlehem or the devil with each point representing one of the 7 deadly sins.  The piñata is broken with a stick, usually a broom or mop handle, that represents the strength from God through faith that allows the participant to romper (break) the hold of the 7 deadly sins and destroy the devil.  The fruit and candy that fall from the demolished piñata represent the love and blessing of God.  Just goes to show you that anything can be religified.

A piñata is broken each night of the 9-day posadas (See Celebrating Christmas–Las Posadas).   After the singing of Pedir Posadas, prayers and refreshment, the chant of “¡No quiero oro, ni quiero plata, yo lo que quiero es quebrar la piñata!” is taken up.  (I don’t want gold, I don’t want silver.  All that I want is to break the piñata!)

So how do you break the piñata?

pinata

Children line up from youngest to oldest.  The piñata is hoisted on a pulley which is manned by someone whose intent is to not allow it to be broken until all children have had a go at it.  The first child is given the stick and may or may not be blindfolded.   Usually, the younger children are not, but the older ones are both blindfolded and spun around several times. (Fiesta Star Pinata)

Singing watchers form a rough circle and each child has until the end of the song to swing like mad and try to hit it to the tune of “¡Dale, dale, dale, no pierdas el ritmo, porque si lo pierdes, pierdes el camino; ya le diste uno ya le diste dos, ya le diste tres y tu tiempo se acabó!”

At the word acabó (finished) the swinger is supposed to hand the stick to the next child in line and not make a flurried series of last minute swings, but it seldom happens as smoothly as one would like.  No matter how many piñata breakings children have attended and no matter how many times the parents caution restraint, there is always a mad rush at the first shower of candy and inevitably someone ends up bonked on the head and crying.  Since there is never enough candy to go around, each child is given an aguinaldo (treat bag) to ease any hurt feelings or cracked skulls.

scramble

At the last piñata bashing we attended, not only were there head bonks, but there was an all-out fist fight and bloody nose between two teenagers over candy.   We took our aguinaldos (treat bags) and high-tailed it out of there.
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