In Mexico, Christmas Day, known as 'Navidad,' is a deeply religious holiday that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ. Celebrated on the 25th of December, as in many other countries worldwide, it marks the culmination of the holiday season that starts with the celebration of the Feast of the Virgin of Guadalupe in early December. Families all over the country gather together to observe this special day with traditional customs, delicious food, and lots of warmth and joy.
Navidad in Mexico is a mix of Christian traditions and indigenous customs. However, Mexican celebrations often start with 'Las Posadas', a series of nightly processions reenacting Mary and Joseph's journey to Bethlehem, starting nine days before Christmas Day. On Christmas Eve, known as 'Noche Buena', people attend a late-night mass called 'La Misa Del Gallo' (The Rooster's Mass). After the mass, families return home to have a festive meal featuring traditional foods like bacalao, a dish made from dried cod, and ponche, a warm fruit punch.
Gift-giving in Mexico traditionally happens on January 6th, the Epiphany or 'El Dia de Reyes' (Three Kings Day), rather than on Christmas Day itself. This is when children receive gifts left by the three Wise Men, who, according to the Bible, brought gifts to the baby Jesus. But influences from the North have made it common to exchange presents on the morning of Christmas Day too. Despite modern influences, the essence of Navidad in Mexico remains in the gathering of families, the enjoyment of food and festivity, and the celebration of the birth of Jesus.