Journey through these enchanting Mexican Christmas traditions

Known for its vibrant celebrations such as the Day of the Dead, Mexico sure knows how to throw a party. If you are traveling to Mexico during the holiday season, it is worth noting that December is the start of the dry season in Mexico, which makes it an ideal moment to travel. Temperatures range between 68 and 77ºF depending on the part of the country you wish to stay in. So, expect hot days and balmy nights. If you are heading to Cancún, you are forecasted to spend Christmas on the beach. Further inland, the temperatures will be warm, so pack light clothes and layers and get ready to enjoy these enchanting Mexican Christmas traditions.

Unlike in other parts of the Western world, Christmas starts at the beginning of the month in Mexico. Each region has unique customs and practices to mark the start of the holiday season. From the radish carving festival in Oaxaca to the time-honored tradition of Las Posadas, Mexico cannot wait to begin the countdown to Christmas Day.

Celebrated on the 12th December, the Day of Our Lady of Guadalupe is an un-official Christmas feast day and marks the start of the festive season. The feast day marks when the Virgin Mary appeared to Juan Diego, an indigenous man on the hill of Tepeyac, close to Mexico City in 1531. Legend says she spoke to Juan Diego in his native Nahuatl language, asking him to build a church in her honor. 

Today, the day is a national bank holiday with many companies hosting a large meal for their employees. For devout Catholics, the day is spent in pilgrimage to the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City, one of the most visited Catholic pilgrimage sites in the world. If you plan to stay in Mexico City, this is not to be missed.

If you are visiting the state of Oaxaca, a Mexican Christmas is not complete without the carving of radishes. The Night of the Radishes, celebrated on December 23rd marks the countdown to the big day and is one of the more curious Mexican Christmas traditions. Artisans carve elaborate designs into radishes and display them in a big parade. This visually stunning event attracts the attention of locals and travelers alike and dates back to the 1800s.  

Las Posadas (which translates to lodgings or shelter) is a holiday celebration that takes place from December 16-25. The nine-day event symbolizes the nine-month pregnancy of Mary, the mother of Jesus. This is a big time in Mexican neighborhoods. If you’re traveling in Mexico during the holidays you will discover an array of biblical re-enactments of Mary and Joseph seeking shelter. The Posadas in Mexico are often accompanied by the singing of classic carols (called villancicos), traditional Mexican Christmas decorations called Luces de Belen or Bethlehem lights and star-shaped piñatas filled with candy.

One of the most fun ways to add a little Latin America twist to your holiday season is to learn a few Mexican Christmas carols, known as villancicos. For a quick primer on this tradition, check out Smithsonian Folkways’ recording of a series of villancicos featuring a 17-girl choir at the Bella Vista Children’s Home in Panama City, Panama. 

Some of these songs may sound familiar: for instance, Noche de Paz is essentially the same as the holiday favorite Silent Night. You and your family will be singing along to these beautiful songs in no time. 

Christmas Eve is a time when Mexican Christmas traditions are in full swing. Families are united, offices close and the world turns into one big celebration just in time for the big day. Here are some of the typical ways that Mexicans celebrate the night before Christmas. 

The last posada takes place on Christmas Eve (known as Noche Buena) and is followed by a late-night mass known as La Misa Del Gallo (The Mass of the Rooster) – so named because a rooster is believed to have crowed on the night when Jesus was born. Young and old congregate together and welcome the start of Christmas.

After the mass, everyone enjoys a traditional feast (like most Mexican holidays), including lots of food, such as Romeritos, served with dried shrimp and potatoes in a tasty green mole sauce. This is also a great time to enjoy a little Ponche Navideño, a warm Christmas punch made by simmering Mexican fruits with cane sugar and spices. It’ll warm you right up! Christmas Eve usually ends at midnight with the opening of presents. Then, it’s time to rest up for Christmas Day itself – December 25 in Mexico is one of the biggest celebrations of the year.

The nativity scenes (Nacimientos) are a big part of family life and one of the most beloved Mexican Christmas traditions. It represents the birth of baby Jesus and showcases not only the members of the Holy Family but also other key members of the Bible and Mexican culture such as the three kings and the farm animals. Some Nacimientos are small and simple while others are an elaborate display. It is also common for neighbors to host competitions between them for the best nativity scene. 

After such a late night on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day in Mexico is usually a day for church, relaxing with family – and food! A Mexican Christmas dinner will often begin with oxtail soup with beans and hot chilli. That’s followed by roasted turkey and a salad made of fresh fruits and vegetables. Another option is pork and chorizo pozole. Pozole is a slow-cooked Mexican stew and it’s sure to become a family favorite if you try it this year. And no Christmas is complete without dessert. A favorite after-dinner Mexican Christmas food is a Buñuelo – a perfectly crispy, fried tortilla covered in cinnamon and sugar. ¡Delicioso! 

If you are planning to spend Christmas on the sun-baked beaches of the Riviera Maya resorts, make sure that you have something relaxing planned for the big day. Since the 25th is widely regarded as a holiday, indulge in some R&R at your hotel’s spa. If you plan to be staying at the luxurious Royal Hideaway Playacar, indulge in a distinctive dining affair at Ventanas restaurant's La Mesa del Chef, where you'll savor a gourmet tasting menu meticulously crafted and presented by the hotel’s executive chef.

Christmas is not complete without showing your loved ones with blessings. Yet, instead of lugging suitcases of presents with you on your travels, head to Cancún’s Kukulcan Boulevard or Playa del Carmen’s 5th Avenue for a spot of retail therapy. Shop everything from artisanal wares to high-end designer luxury goods and don’t forget to recharge your batteries at some of the best eateries along the way. 

The holiday season comes to a close on January 6 during El Día De Los Tres Reyes (Day of the Three Kings), which celebrates when the Three Wise Men arrived bearing gifts for the baby Jesus. In some parts of Mexico, one of the traditional Mexican Christmas traditions is for children to leave a shoe out on the night before, in hopes that the Wise Men might leave something for them, too! The next day, there are presents and Rosco, a sweet round cake with candied fruits that adults and children alike love.