Christmas a bit Different in Mexico - Feliz Navidad.

From all of us on Jaltemba Bay in Nayarit, Mexico and from the staff of the Jaltemba Jalapeño a very sincere: Feliz Navidad.

If you would like to catch the flavour of the days leading up to Christmas in small town Mexico read: Christmas a bit Different in Mexico

On Noche Buena (xmas eve) the streets are lined with small bonfires called fogatas where people are gathered around pounding cervezas to toast the birth of the niño Jesús. Others are strolling those streets and are welcomed in to warm themselves by the fogata and offerred refreshments of cerveza and ponche. Fireworks and loud revelling are served up all the while.

Many folks celebrate with a huge supper served at midnight where all have been gathered around the dinner table as the main room of the house for the past few weeks have been turned into the nativity scene with all usable furniture stacked or pushed aside to accomodate the manger, camels, worshippers, etc.

The fogata continues in the street and as more libations are consumed the music in turn gets louder and continues this trend throughout the night. The older folk have now consumed their meal and retired to their beds while the younger ones continue to cheer, sing off-key, and raise their spirits into the heavens and other continue strolling. The local tiendas accordingly extend their hours into the night to help fuel the singing and festivities.

And so it goes throughout the madrugada until daybreak when the cevezas run out, fogata fires burn out, and likewise the revelers at last burn out and retire to their beds. The abuelitas have arisen and now venture out to clean-up the beer cans and fogata and sweep the streets before the rest of the neighbors emerge from their homes.

What is conspicuously missing is the gift exchange us from NOB are accustomed to. That comes later on the 6th of January when the children are visited in their slumber by the Reyes Magos who leave presents under their beds. By that custom the solemnity of the Navidad is not forsaken by expectations of toys and presents. Es la tradición.

We noticed very quickly how much less commercial Christmas is in Mexico and put it as just another positive entry in the ledger of why we like living there.

Mainecoons wrote:We noticed very quickly how much less commercial Christmas is in Mexico and put it as just another positive entry in the ledger of why we like living there.

It is much less commercial here, but the Modelo company makes out pretty good by it.

That sounds like my kind of Xmas Peter.

Peter wrote:On Noche Buena (xmas eve) the streets are lined with small bonfires called fogatas where people are gathered around pounding cervezas to toast the birth of the niño Jesús. Others are strolling those streets and are welcomed in to warm themselves by the fogata and offerred refreshments of cerveza and ponche. Fireworks and loud revelling are served up all the while.

Many folks celebrate with a huge supper served at midnight where all have been gathered around the dinner table as the main room of the house for the past few weeks have been turned into the nativity scene with all usable furniture stacked or pushed aside to accomodate the manger, camels, worshippers, etc.

The fogata continues in the street and as more libations are consumed the music in turn gets louder and continues this trend throughout the night. The older folk have now consumed their meal and retired to their beds while the younger ones continue to cheer, sing off-key, and raise their spirits into the heavens and other continue strolling. The local tiendas accordingly extend their hours into the night to help fuel the singing and festivities.

And so it goes throughout the madrugada until daybreak when the cevezas run out, fogata fires burn out, and likewise the revelers at last burn out and retire to their beds. The abuelitas have arisen and now venture out to clean-up the beer cans and fogata and sweep the streets before the rest of the neighbors emerge from their homes.

What is conspicuously missing is the gift exchange us from NOB are accustomed to. That comes later on the 6th of January when the children are visited in their slumber by the Reyes Magos who leave presents under their beds. By that custom the solemnity of the Navidad is not forsaken by expectations of toys and presents. Es la tradición.

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By that custom the solemnity of the Navidad is not forsaken by expectations of toys and presents. Es la tradición.

Rightfully so..

¡Viva la diferencia! Lizzy

I have noticed some changes, though.....and not, IMO, good ones re the commercialization of Christmas. Huge displays in Walmart, Costco, Soriana and everywhere else we shop.
It would be a shame if the traditions Peter described were replaced by the U.S. style annual shopping frenzy that leaves many families broke and paying credit card debt for months.

Peter wrote:

Mainecoons wrote:We noticed very quickly how much less commercial Christmas is in Mexico and put it as just another positive entry in the ledger of why we like living there.

It is much less commercial here, but the Modelo company makes out pretty good by it.

Well, since we're drunks we don't complain too much about that.

gringal wrote:I have noticed some changes, though.....and not, IMO, good ones re the commercialization of Christmas. Huge displays in Walmart, Costco, Soriana and everywhere else we shop.
It would be a shame if the traditions Peter described were replaced by the U.S. style annual shopping frenzy that leaves many families broke and paying credit card debt for months.

Aye, and all the hype and hard-sell takes the fun out of Christmas. Way too much stress Lizzy