Mexican customs different, similar to United States

Christmas customs in Mexico, although similar in some ways to Christmas in the United States, are also very different from those of its northern neighbor. There is no Santa Claus in Mexico. Instead, their holiday observations center on the Christ child and the nativity. 

Belen Olson of McPherson was born in Mexico but moved wit her family to the United States when she was a child. Although very much a part of the American culture, Mrs. Olson has kept in touch with the customs of her home country - including its Christmas traditions. Her name, Belen, is Spanish for "Bethlehem." 

Mrs. Olson said Christmas in Mexico is a beautiful time of the year. Poinsettias grow in the yards, and at Christmas time they are in full bloom - often up to 10 feet tall. 

Several weeks prior to Dec. 16, the people have a Christmas fair in an open market where they sell handmade items like toys, baskets, and clay pots. 

On Dec. 16, the celebration of the Posadas begins. Posadas, Spanish for "inn," symbolizes the nigh Mary and Joseph were unable to find lodging at the in and instead stayed in the stable. 

Mrs. Olson said during the celebration, nine families get together for nine nights. Each night, the group meets in a different family's home. The largest home is chosen for Christmas Eve. 

The Posada begins with a prayer led by the head of the house. The group then forms a procession, led by two children carrying little figures of Mary and Joseph from a nativity scene. The procession moves through the house as the children knock on different doors and ask for admittance. They are denied until they arrive at the last room where there is a small altar set up. The children enter and place Mary and Joseph in the nativity scene. 

After prayer, the families move to the patio for the breaking of the pinata - a large pottery jar or papier mache structure filled with candy and goodies that blindfolded participants try to hit with a stick. 

On the ninth night, the baby Jesus figurine is placed in the manger. The father of the family prays and hymns are sung while the baby is placed in the manger. Afterward, everyone again goes outside for the breaking of the pinata. 

Mrs. Olson said in the midst of all of these festivities, everyone attends midnight Mass. 

Christmas Day is as quiet time when families get together, but no gifts are exchanged. Christmas dinner, Mrs. Olson said, is truly a work of art. The main dish is turkey. Called "mole poblana," the recipe is unlike any used in the United States. It is served with sauce made of chili, chocolate, and almonds. The meal usually includes a fruit or vegetable salad, or both, and coffee or hot chocolate, which Mrs. Olson said is different than the hot chocolate of the United States. 

Mrs. Olson said Santa is almost unknown to the Mexican children. Instead, they write letters to the Christ child before the day of Epiphany on Jan. 5. The day of the Epiphany is observed as the day the Magi came to visit the baby Jesus in Bethlehem. 

On the eve of the Epiphany, after Masses and elaborate church services, the children place their shoes at the foot of their beds, similar to the way North American children hang their stockings on Christmas Eve. In the morning, there are some presents in the shoes and others elsewhere in the house. 

On Jan. 5, there is another big dinner, this one highlighted by a large donut-shaped cake. Somewhere inside the cake is a small figurine. Whoever gets the slice of cake with the figurine in it has the dubious honor of paying the expenses for a fiesta in February. 

Mrs. Olson said Posadas in Mexico are much more sophisticated than those of yesteryear, although the older Mexicans want to preserve the old ways for the children. 

She said the United States' Christmas traditions have begun to have somewhat of an effect on Mexico, although many of their celebrations are still strictly their own. Christmas trees are becoming more common than they used to be. 

Another McPherson resident who has lived in Puerto Rico, Chile and Uruguay said those countries celebrate Christmas much the same as people in the United States do. 

In Puerto Rico, he sad, they now have Santa. But before that, legend said the three wise men brought gifts, and the children would put grass in boxes under their beds for the wise men's camels. In the morning, the grass would be gone and there would be gifts - much the same way American children leave cookies and milk for Santa Claus. 

In Chile and Uruguay, he said, the traditions are very much like those in the United States, including the St. Nicholas figure, whom they call "Papa Noel."

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