Mexican Traditions November 17, 2009

Mexican Traditions

 Day of Magic Kings

 This is a tradition that has been celebrated for many years in Mexico and is celebrated across the country. Children of Mexico write the kings a letter asking for toys. The letter is left inside a shoe the night of January 5^th.

That night the Mexican families are accustomed to eating a delicious bagel and hot chocolate.

That day in some cities of the country like Irapuato the people organize a ride with music and lights where children are thrilled waiting for magic kings!

 Day of La Candelaria

It is celebrated on February 2^nd.

It is a religious tradition where people are accustomed to wake up the child Jesus, after Christmas.  This day the people eat tamales made of chili and sugar and atole.

Easter

 This week represents when Jesus died for us. It begins on Palm Sunday. After that, a service is held on Holy Thursday. Later a service is held on Holy Friday and the church is open all day.

And it ends on Resurrection Sunday and is the biggest festival of the church.

Independence Day

On September 15  the Independence Day of Mexico is celebrated.

 The president of each city in Mexico goes out to the balcony to give the cry of independence to remind us that we are a free and sovereign country.

Day of the Dead

 This day is celebrated on November 2 to commemorate the dead. People put an altar with objects and food that the deceased like.

Also people eat bread of dead and ‘’alfeñiques’,’ which are sugar figures in the form of food, skulls, etc.

Christmas Day.

Is celebrated on December 24^th.

This day marks the day that Jesus was born. People would celebrate by making a delicious dinner such as turkey.

And in some families they do gift exchanges. Besides that it is customary to put a Christmas tree in the house.

By Maureen

Posadas: A Holiday Tradition November 16, 2009

“Las Posadas” are traditional parties that we to do here in Mexico. These celebrations are done from the 16th to the 24th of December. They are to commemorate when Maria and Jose were looking for a place to sleep, so they could wait until the birth of Jesus. On the other hand, it is also to commemorate the 9 months that Maria was pregnant.

In Mexico a group of people organized themselves and did posadas in nine different houses. The people that are most interested in these celebrations are dressed like Maria or Jose, and sometimes they get a donkey. But this is not necessary.

To start everything the people have candles or sparklers and they sing Christmas Carol. The people that are outside sing the first part and the people that are inside the house answer with other part. This is a fragment of the song.

Outside:

En nombre del cielo

Os pido posada

Pues no puede andar

Mi esposa amada

Inside:

Aquí no es mesón

Sigan adelante

Yo no puedo abrir

No sea algún tunante

Outside:

No seas inhumano

Tennos caridad

Que el Rey de los cielos

Te lo premiará

Inside:

Ya se pueden ir

Y no molestar

porque si me enfado

Os voy a apalear

Outside:

Venimos rendidos

Desde Nazaret

Yo soy carpintero

 

De nombre José

Inside:

No me importa el nombre

Déjenme dormir

Porque ya les digo

Que no hemos de abrir

And when finally everyone is inside of the hoUse, they pray the Rosary. Then they eat atole, tamales and punch. Later they break the Piñata that is made of 7 peaks, because of the 7 cardinal sins and they have fruits, like oranges, tejocote, nuts, candies of colacion, etc. But actually some people don’t make piñatas. Instead they just give candies to the kids.

And to finish they give “Aguinaldo”, that could be money or a bag with candies and fruit.

Mexico: Day of the Dead October 29, 2009

Day of the Dead

(Día de los muertos)

Mexico is well known for the colorful decoration and this is a special day when they celebrate, pray and remember friends and family members who have died.

This celebration is on November 1st and 2^nd. Many people believe that during the Day of the Dead, it is easier for the souls of the departed to visit the living. Sometimes it can take a humorous tone with poetry and funny photos. The colors that are often used in this celebration are orange, purple, yellow, white, black and red.

Mexican families make an altar. The altar consists at a minimum of a covered table with the offerings.  It has candles because they are used to be a guide for the spirits. It is built in levels and you can put the favorite things of the spirit.

Mexican food varies by region, because of local climate and geography, but this day all the cities have something in common: typical food, beverages and things. For example:

Pan de Muerto: It’s sweet bread that is glazed and decorated with colored sugar.

Candied Pumpkin: Fresh pumpkin slices that are cooked in a piloncillo glaze.

Atole: It’s a hot cup of masa gruel and it’s used to warm the spirits when they return or when they leave.

Tamales: Cornmeal paste wrapped in corn and stuffed with chicken, pork or turkey.

Mole sauce: It’s a sauce served over a chicken and It’s made with the combination of chocolate, chilies and many spices.

Hot chocolate: served in little cups with candies.

A common symbol of the holiday is the skull (Calaveras) and Catrinas. Sugar skulls are gifts that can be given to both, the living and the dead.

Other decorative things are pictures of the dead person, papel picado or tissue paper cut-outs, wreaths, crosses and flowers.

Mexico has a lot of cultural celebrations and the Day of the Dead is something that binds us together as a family. It can be seen as a sad celebration or as an enthusiastic celebration.

 By Brenda