Some Mexican Traditions

by Valeria Clemente Lorenzo

The culture is a form to communicate the values and cultural events through the time.

The Candelaria

In this time  the people sell  dolls that can be  Jesus child, and clothes to  get dressed at   the Jesus child. The candelaria is celebrated on February 2^nd.In this  culture  the people  look for  godparents  for the Jesus child, where the owners  of the child  and the godparents  need to have respect  among them. This during  three years, the first year the child is presented into a basket, the second year  he is sitting on a chair and the third year he is just starting in the road because now the  child can walk and run.

After this process it necessary to get dressed to the Jesus child and this is made by the godparent. The most important of Candelaria is the “rosca” (bread),that contain some plastic  dolls inside it and  can find when the people are eating the bread, and  who find this dolls is going to give some tamales on February 2^nd.

Christmas 

This tradition is my favorite and the most important for me, because I can stay with my family and friends, besides all  the time is peace and harmony.

This celebration  starts the  first Sunday of  “adviento” when the people bring to the church a crown of adviento with five candles around it, these are of different color like: three types of purples, pink and one white. Each Sunday the people turn on a candle.

On December 16^th starts the “posadas” that represents the nine months that Joseph and Mary were waiting for Jesus. In the posadas the people break piñatas, drink ponche and give to the boys presents that contain candies and some fruits like: cane,  jicama, mandarin orange and tejocotes.

On Christmas Eve (December 25^th) all the family is together and attend to the Christmas ceremony at 12:00 o`clock, after the family runs to opens the presents from each member of the family.

In new  year the celebration is similar to Christmas, but at 12:00 o`clock the people make a toast and eat twelve grapes that represent each month of the year and with each grape you can ask for a desire.