Instructions: As a Christian country that really knows how to throw a party, Mexico pulls out all the stops throughout the Christmas season. Many Mexicans actually take a full two weeks off of work in order to celebrate properly!

The party begins with "Los Posadas" on December 16.

From the 16 th through
Christmas, Mexicans celebrate the journey of Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem.

Each of these nights, children reenact the trials of Mary and Joseph by processing to three houses and asking for shelter. At the first two, they are turned away. At the third house, they are offered a stable to sleep in.

Once they accept, the party begins in the third house with worship, warm drinks and pinatas. On Christmas Eve, the Ave Maria includes an additional verse to let Mary know it is time for her baby to enter the world.

At midnight on Christmas Eve, bells are blown, horns are tooted and fireworks are lit to welcome the Christ Child. After midnight, a feast is served. This feast often consists of menudo, tamales and atole. Other traditional dishes include roast ham, turkey, pig, rice and chile rellenos.

A hot fruit punch (ponche) often accompanies the meal.

Christmas is dedicated to the birth of Christ. Most Mexicans will attend a mass and celebrate, but the celebration is religious- there are not presents exchanged (traditionally) as in many cultures. Most of the day is reserved for siestas and leftovers!

December 28 is the Day of the Innocents. This commemorates the children killed by Herod in his effort to murder the Christ Child. Today, jokes are played on family and friends in an attempt to be able to call them "Fool Saint."

Presents arrive on Three Kings Day (January 6) when the celebration includes Three Kings Cake (Rosco de Reyes) and another party. A small Christ figure is baked into the cake. The guest who received the figure in their piece becomes the host of one last party before Dia de Candelaria on February 2nd. Candelmas honors Mary while celebrating the day Christ was presented at Temple. This party often includes a regional mole. Candelmas marks the official end of the Christmas season.

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