December and Xmas in Mexico

December 12th -- Day of the Virgin of Guadalupe. The history is that the Virgin appeared to a local priest in the 1500's, the first appearance of the Virgin in the Americas. She is now the patron saint of Mexico. This year approximately 5 million pilgrims visited the Shrine in her name, on the north side of Mexico City, the few days leading up to the 12th of December. I tried to catch the news on TV about the pilgrimages, since we decided not to try to take the kids, but the broadcasts I saw seemed to focus on the quantity of garbage left behind from the 5 million people.

We knew that the morning of the 12th there would be Mass all around the country early in the morning to sing "Las mañanitas" (Happy Birthday) to the Virgin. We were surprised, however, when we were awakened at midnight by fireworks being set off all across the city (we had a nice view of 4 or 5 different series of fireworks from our 10th floor windows).

We also were told that many children wouldn't go to school on the 12th. As I was dropping off the kids that morning, about half of the school seemed to be absent.

La Pastorela y Piñatas -- One of the two things that surprised us most about the Xmas season here were the quantity of piñatas--all of them the traditional star-shaped--as decorations all over the city -- even the Pemex gas stations had piñatas hanging over the gas pumps. For the end of December celebration at the kids' elementary, every class had 2 or 3 piñatas to break -- the central patio was filled with kids lining up to break them and dive for candy.

Piñatas at a store in Xalapa, Veracruz

La Pastorela is a dramatic work focusing on the devil trying to keep the shephards from going to Bethlehem. Everywhere you turn there were performances -- Jacob and Sabines theater class put on a version, the parents at the elementary school performed for the entire school (I had the privilege of being a lead sheep -- which means I was in charge of 15 little 1st grader sheep).
Walking down the street the week the last days before Xmas break there were quite a number of little angels, devils and sheep heading off to school in the mornings.

Our Christmas vacation -- see the "December and Xmas" Slideshow to see photos of our trip to Cuetzalan, Xalapa, Veracruz and San Miguel de Allende.

Beach vendors in Tecolutla, Veracruz

January 6th -- Día de los Reyes Magos -- Epiphany is the day when most children receive their presents in Mexico. They leave their shoes out by their beds the night of the 5th, and the three Kings leave presents in (or by) their shoes. Families gather on the 6th and eat "Rosca de Reyes", a round bread/cake that has at least 1 little doll baked inside (though I guess many have 5 or 6 little dolls). The person who gets the piece with the little doll must host a tamal dinner on February 2nd, the end of the Epiphany season.

Sabine going to bed January 5th, leaving her shoes out, and food and drink for the camels.