Mexican Christmas Traditions - Posadas in Barra de Navidad 2015

Traditional Mexican Nativity Scene

♬ ♪ ♮♫♭♩ Humildes peregrinos Jesús, María y José

Mi alma os doy, y con ella mi corazón también ♬ ♪ ♮♫♭♩

Posadas traditionally begin on Dec 16th when the Nativity Scene is set up in most of the houses in Mexico, and the last posada is on Dec. 24th. In a traditional Posada the Rosary is prayed and images of Joseph and Mary are taken on a pilgrimage by the "peregrinos" (pilgrims) carrying candles and "bengala" lights and singing the traditional songs looking for a place to stay where Jesus will be born.During the pilgrimage Joseph and Mary are rejected until they are finally allowed in a place where Jesus will be born. 

Traditional songs are sung by the participants, a piñata with seven cones (that represent the seven capital sins) full of candies, oranges, mandarins and sugar cane pieces  is broken and bags with colaciones (special type of candy for posadas), cookies, oranges, mandarins, sugar cane pieces and peanuts (bolos) are given to all the attendants.
Posadas can be organized by families, friends, neighbors, churches, companies, etc. The following is the program of the Posadas organized by the Church in Barra de Navidad where everybody is welcome to participate.

Posadas 2015 in Barra de Navidad Program

Christmas Traditions in Mexico - Posadas in Barra de Navidad, Jal.

Posadas in Barra de Navidad 2015
Coming Soon!

On the first day the Belén also called Nacimiento (Nativity Scene) and Christmas tree are set up in the houses.
The Rosary will be prayed at 7:00 p.m. or 8:00 pm in the barrio and sectores following the Mass and Posada at the church in the corresponding area. 

• Dec. TBD - San Felipe 
• Dec. TBD - El Aguacate
• Dec. TBD - Sector 2
• Dec. TBD - Colimilla
• Dec. TBD - Sector  3 de Barra de Navidad
• Dec. TBD - Sector  4 de Barra de Navidad
• Dec. TBD - Brisas de la Navidad
• Dec. TBD - Sector 1 en Templo Parroquial.
• Dec. TBD - Sector 5
• Dec. TBD - Colonia Ejidal, Las Perlitas and Gallo Colorado . Rosary and Posada at 8:30 pm 

Posadas in Barra de Navidad barrio "San Felipe de Jesús"

Join the enthusiastic Doña Petra and neighbors of the Barra de Navidad barrio "San Felipe de Jesús" in their traditional "Posadas in the barrio".   accompanied with their children dressed up as Joseph, Mary, shepherds and devils.

Traditional Mexican Christmas Posada in Barra de Navidad barrio "San Felipe de Jesús"

 Dec. 16th till Dec. 24th. 2013 : The Rosary is prayed around 7:00 pm every day at the barrio church. After the rosary children and adults walk in a parade singing Mexican Christmas carols toward the street where "la posada" takes place.

All the attendants to the "posada" participate singing the verses of the reenactment of Joseph and Mary looking for lodging. A pinata that represent the evil or 7 sins (if it has seven cones) is broken by the children with a stick that represents the triumph of good over evil. The pinata is filled with fruits like pieces of sugar cane, mandarins, oranges, peanuts and candies.

An appetizer is served and children are given "bolos" bags with traditional Mexican Christmas candies and cookies and also fruits..

Note -  Barra de Navidad barrio church is located at the corner of O. Indico and Ejidatarios streets (one block north from Nueva España, a few steps from Abarrotes "Pelayo". Barra de Navidad Mapquest map shows all the streets of Barra de Navidad including the Barrio streets.

Christmas in Mexico Posadas in Barra de Navidad, Jal.  Dec. 2013

Christmas Traditions in Mexico - Posadas and Nativity Scene

Las Posadas and Nativity Scene - Mexican Christmas Traditions

Mexican Nativity Scene - Nativity Scene Exhibition - Virreinato Museum in San Luis Potosi - Photo: Casa Las Margaritas

"Posadas", Nativity Scene and "Acostada del Niño Dios" are three of the Mexican Christmas traditions. There are also "Pastorelas", "Levantada del Niño Dios", "Día de Reyes" (Wise Men celebration) and "Día de La Candelaria" (Candle Mass Day).

Nativity Scene Exhibition Virreinato Museum in San Luis Potosi - Courtesy Casa Las Margaritas

Nativity Scene: Belén also called Nacimiento is set up usually on Dec 16th. It has representations of traditional Mexican scenes combined with scenes of how the artisans imagine was Bethlehem in the time when Jesus was born. The center of the Nacimiento are the figures of Joseph and Mary with Baby Jesus. Important part of a Nativity Scene are the Bethlehem Star, the 3 wise men (Los 3 Reyes Magos), the angel, a cow, a ox, shephers and the devil (diablo).

Posadas : is a 9 days celebration (Novenario de Las Posadas) that symbolizes the journey of Joseph and Mary to Belen and the problems they had to endure to find a place to stay (posada).

Mexican Nativity Scene - Nativity Scene Exhibition Virreinato Museum in San Luis Potosi - Photo:  Casa Las Margaritas 

 Posadas traditionally begin on Dec 16th when the Nativity Scene is set up in most of the houses in Mexico, and the last posada is on Dec. 24th. In a traditional Posada the Rosary is prayed and images of Joseph and Mary are taken on a pilgrimage by the "peregrinos" (pilgrims) carrying candles and "bengala" lights and singing the traditional songs looking for a place to stay where Jesus will be born.During the pilgrimage Joseph and Mary are rejected until they are finally allowed in a place where Jesus will be born. Traditional songs are song by the participants, a piñata with seven cones (that represent the seven capital sins) full of candies, oranges, mandarins and sugar cane pieces  is broken and bags with colaciones (special type of candy for posadas), cookies, oranges, mandarins, sugar cane pieces and peanuts (bolos) are given to all the attendants.
Posadas can be organized by families, friends, neighbors, churches, companies, etc. The following is the program of the Posadas organized by the Church in Barra de Navidad where everybody is welcome to participate.

Traditional Mexican Posadas in Barra de Navidad barrio "San Felipe de Jesus", Jalisco, Mexico

Poinsettia, Christmas flower, Cuitlaxochitl or Nochebuena is a  flower or Mexican Central American origin

Devil figure in Nativity Scene - Nativity Scene Exhibition Virreinato Museum in San Luis Potosi - Photo: Casa Las Margaritas 

Acostada del Niño Dios - On Dec. 24th it is also very common the celebration of "Acostada del Niño Dios" (bedding of Baby Jesus) where the image of Baby Jesus is put in the Nativity Scene on a special ceremony with prays and songs. The image of Baby Jesus is cleaned with perfume by the "godparents" (usually children are invited as Baby Jesus godparents), and putting to "sleep" with prays and songs.  The image of Baby Jesus is putting on a tray with candies and chocolates, the tray is passed to everyone to kiss Baby Jesus and take a candy from the tray. Then Baby Jesus is  put on the Nativity Scene usually until Candlemas day on February 2nd. when the "Levantada del Niño Dios" is celebrated.

Visiting Barra de Navidad? Stay at Casa Las Margaritas

Celebrating the 451st Anniversary of the Mexico Philippines Expedition that set sail from Barra de Navidad Jalisco on November 21st 1564

Celebrating the 450th Anniversary of the Mexico Philippines Expedition that set sail from Barra de Navidad Jalisco on November 21st 1564

Monument dedicated to the 400 anniversary of the expedition Mexico-Philippines at the Malecon in Barra de Navidad, Jalisco México.

November 21st. is the anniversary of the Expedition that set sail from Barra de Navidad, Jalisco México in 1564 to The Philippines.

From wikipedia:
At the death of the viceroy, Don Luís de Velasco, in 1564, New Spain had passed under the government of the Audiencia, one of whose first cares was to equip an expedition for the conquest and colonization of the Philippines. This had been ordered by Philip II in 1559. Friar Andrés de Urdaneta having been designated as the Commander, the Viceroy had the matter under consideration at the time of his death. Urdaneta was considered a great navigator and especially fitted for cruising in Indian waters. Philip II wrote urging him to join the expedition and offering him the command. Urdaneta agreed to accompany the expedition but refused to take command; the adelantado, Don Miguel López de Legazpi, was appointed as Commander. The expedition, composed of the Capitana, which carried on board Legazpi and Urdaneta, the galleons San Pablo and San Pedro, and the tenders San Juan and San Lucas, set sail from Barra de Navidad, Jalisco, Mexico on November 21, 1564.

 Every year there is an official ceremony to commemorate the anniversary of the expedition at  the  Malecon of Barra de Navidad organized by the Municipality of Cihuatlan and the Barra de Navidad Municipality Delegation. 

Many of the streets in the downtown area and Fraccionamiento Pueblo Nuevo have been named after this expedition.
Check the following Interesting Information about the Route Mexico - Philippines:

• Andrés de Urdaneta 500: website
• Artículo de Exploramex: El Galeón de Manila (La Nao de China) y la China Poblana
• A Mexican connection in intramuros: http://www.theurbanroamer.com/mexican-connection-in-intramuros/
• Plaza Mexico (Manila): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plaza_de_Mexico_(Manila)
• Momentos en la Historia de México: El Descubrimiento de Las Filipinas.

Monument dedicated to the 400 anniversary of the expedition Mexico-Philippines at the Malecon in Barra de Navidad, Jalisco México.

Barra de Navidad, Jalisco, Mexico 

Fraternidad Iberoamericana y Filipina 1564-1964 - Monument dedicated to the 400 anniversary of the expedition Mexico-Philippines at the Malecon in Barra de Navidad, Jalisco México.

Lady of Guadalupe Festivity - The Rosaries and Pilgrimage in Barra de Navidad

Lady of Guadalupe Altar at Mary Chuy Fishing Charters

46 Rosaries

If you are spending winter or visting Barra de Navidad during the months of October, November and early December you will probably have noticed in the evenings around 5:00 or 6:00 pm small groups of people gathering in businesses, restaurants, or houses in front of a small altar with an image of the Lady of Guadalupe.

Virgin of Guadalupe Altar at Sea Master Restaurant

These people get together to pray the Rosary during 46 days starting October 28th. and finishing December 12th. The groups are organized by neighbors who live or have businesses closed by in the different sectors of Barra de Navidad and Barrio San Felipe de Jesús.

People in the group take turns to host a reunion that last about an hour, the host also sets the altar in their house or business where the group will pray the Rosary that day, and after finishing praying the Rosary the host invite their guests for a small appetizer like tacos dorados, rice pudding, or just a soft drink or agua de jamaica. After finishing the appetizer the group go in a small pilgrimage carrying the image of the Virgin of Guadalupe, flowers and ornaments for the altar and singing  to the house of the host where the Rosary will be prayed the next day.
A small start will also be hanged to the dress of the image and a collection is made for members of the group to buy flowers, or contract a Mariachi band on December 12th. when the Lady of Guadalupe feast is celebrated.

Virgin of Guadalupe Altar at Casa Diaz grocery store corner of Veracruz and Jalisco streets

The last day the group get together is on December 11th. when all the different groups take their images to the Barra de Navidad church.

Altar at Sea Master Restaurant - Lady of Guadalupe Feast in Barra de Navidad, Jalisco Mexico

Lady Of Guadalupe Feast on December 11th

A rosary and pilgrimage to the main church with the Lady of Guadalupe images. A mass is celebrated usually at 9 pm and a serenade "mañanitas a la virgen" with live music (mariachis or a band ) for the Lady of Guadalupe  is played after the mass.

Mañanitas a la Virgen  - Lady of Guadalupe Feast in Barra de Navidad, Jalisco Mexico

Lady of Guadalupe Feast on December 12th.

A pilgrimage and "Danzas" to the Barra de Navidad Church with the Lady of Guadalupe images and starts participating families of Barra de Navidad and from the San Felipe de Jesús barrio. This pilgrimage starts in the highway by the football field (corner with Nueva España Ave.) and ends in the Barra de Navidad church in downtown. A mass is celebrated after the pilgrimage.

Getting ready for the pilgrimage - Lady of Guadalupe Feast in Barra de Navidad, Jalisco Mexico

Doña Petra - Getting ready for the pilgrimage - Lady of Guadalupe Feast in Barra de Navidad, Jalisco Mexico

Getting ready for the pilgrimage - Lady of Guadalupe Feast in Barra de Navidad, Jalisco Mexico

Mass after the pilgrimage - Lady of Guadalupe Feast in Barra de Navidad, Jalisco Mexico

Virgenes con estrellas -  Lady of Guadalupe Feast in Barra de Navidad, Jalisco Mexico

Huracán Patricia Hurricane Windyty Map & Forecast

Huracán Patricia Hurricane Windyty Map & Forecast

Day of the Dead in Mexico - Celebración de Día de Muertos en México

Day of the Dead in Mexico / Día de Muertos en México

Cempasúchil, Posada and his Catrina, Calaveras poems, Don Juan Tenorio, Xantolo, Hanal Pixán

El jarabe en ultratumba - The Folk Dance Beyond the Grave - Jose Guadalupe Posada

Day of the Dead in Mexico Celebrations

Day of the Dead in Mexico: Cempasuchil flowers, Calaveras images of Posada, Calaveras poems, Don Juan Tenorio, Xantolo, Hanal Pixán and more. 

The Indigenous Festivity dedicated to the Dead in Mexico was proclaimed in 2003 as an Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO. 

   The celebration of the Day of the Dead begins in some parts of Mexico on the last days of October until the first days of November, where November 1st and 2nd are the most important days. It can be as simple as lighting some candles at home to remember the loved ones who have died or to visit them in the cemetery, cleaning the tombs and bringing them flowers . The most popular flower is the  cempasuchil [marygold]  originally from Mexico), candies like charamuscas, alfeñique and some food.  
It is also common to set up an altar which is a Pre-Hispanic tradition, either at home dedicated to family members or in public spaces, dedicated to public figures like artists or national Heroes. The altar is decorated with papel picado , fruits, flowers, pictures of the deceased, and sugar skulls. 

Day of the Dead Altar - Altar de Muertos - Day of the Dead in México

Probably one of the most known Day of the Dead celebration outside of Mexico is the one celebrated in Janitzio a small town in Michoacan.One of the best "Day of the Dead" festivals is Festival Cultural de Calaveras in Aguascalientes .
This festival is organized to honor great cartoonist illustrator and artist Jose Guadalupe Posada  who was born in Aguascalientes. His images of "calaveras" (skulls) where the most popular is La Catrina  are associated with Mexican Day of the Dead celebrations.
There is a proposal by Mexico to UNESCO to include Jose Guadalupe Posada's legacy as part of the Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Although on this article published by El Universal based on research made by historian and journalist Agustín Sánches González seems to be a controversy about who is the author of the famous Catrina, many recognized is Jose Guadalupe Posada, but, it was originally named it "Calavera Garbancera" and the first published image that has been found is from 1913. Diego Rivera designed the body and named it "La Catrina" when he add it to the mural "Sueño de una tarde dominical en la alameda central".

"Calavera Garbancera"  by  Mexican Artist José Guadalupe Posada also named "La Catrina" by Diego Rivera created in 1913 

Another popular Mexican tradition are "calaveras" poems, these are humoruos obituaries about well-known people within any kind of community, schools, companies, etc but the most famous are the ones published in newspapers about politicians and actors. Calaveras are published on November 2nd. like these from El Universal newspaper. 
Don Juan Tenorio of author Jose Zorrila is a theatre drama presented also mainly during November, there are dramatic and comic versions of this drama. This presentation of Don Juan Tenorio in the Teatro Degollado in Guadalajara is a dramatic version. 

Traditional Day of the Dead bread - Pan de Día de Muertos

 You will find in public markets during these days: Calaveras (skulls) made of sugar (alfeñique), amaranto, chocolate, charamuscas, pan de muerto (day of the dead bread) and mazapan candies. 

Festivals and Celebrations of Day of the Dead in different regions of Mexico

Day of the Dead in Mexico - Xantolo: Danza de Huehues - San Luis Potosí

Festival de Calaveras - Aguascalientes Ags., México

Festival de Calaveras - Aguascalientes

Festival Cultural de Calaveras in Aguascalientes : Jose Guadalupe Posada cartoonist, illustrator and artist creator of the famous Catrina was born in Aguascalientes. This festival has been created to honor him and to promote the preservation of the Mexican traditions to celebrate the festivities dedicated to the dead.

Altar de Muertos dedicado al historiador Guillermo Tovar de Teresa en el Museo de El Carmen

Museo Dolores Olmedo - Ciudad de México

Concurso de Disfraces de la Calavera Catrina

Museo Dolores Olmedo Xochimilco México 

Espacio de Diego y Frida Ciudad de México 

Concurso de Disfraces de la Calavera Catrina

Cada año El Museo Dolores Olmedo invita a participar en su ya tradicional concurso de disfraces y celebrar el Día de Muertos con La Catrina, uno de los personajes más simpáticos de la temporada. Para mas información visitar: MuseoDolores Olmedo

Fondo de Cultura Económica - Centro Cultural Bella Época

Calaveras Literarias - Ciudad de México

Fondo de Cultura Económica - Concurso de Calaveras Literarias  "Calaveras a Fondo"

Fondo de Cultura Económica 

Concurso de Calaveras Literarias  "Calaveras a Fondo"

Cada año El Fondo de Cultura Económica y El Centro Cultural Bella Época convocan a su Concurso Metropolitano de Calaveras Literarias. Para recibir comentarios o pedir información adicional favor de contactar eventos.bellaepoca@fondodeculturaeconomica.com.  

Día de Muertos en Oaxaca

Visit : Dia de Muertos en Oaxaca.

"Día de Los Muertos" in Manzanillo Colima

Day of the Dead Altar dedicated to Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo

Read article: How Manzanillo celebrates "Day of the Dead" 

Day of the Dead Celebrations in Mexico (videos)

Día de Muertos en Tzintzuntzan Michoacan

Día de Muertos en Patzcuaro Michoacan

The Indigenous Festivity dedicated to the Dead - UNESCO channel

INAH Documentary "El Juego de los Diablos"

 Celebration of the Day of the Dead in Guerrero's Costa Chica and Oaxaca

XANTOLO

Xantolo - Danza de Huehues de Tampaón - San Luis Potosí, México 

Xantolo the celebration dedicated to the Dead in the Huasteca region is not very well known outside of Mexico. The Nahuatl word Xantolo originated from the Latin word Santorum Santoro. The following are sites and videos of this celebration:

Xantolo in Tempoal de Sánchez Veracruz Facebook page
Xantolo: Dead Festivity in the Huasteca region .
Xantolo images

Xantolo Documentary: November 3rd. Anima Sola, Huehues

Xantolo en la Huasteca Documentary

Xantolo Dance in Jaltocan Hidalgo 

Traditional Dance of Day of the Dead in Huejutla Hidalgo

Baile Xantolo Danza de Huehues San Luis Potosi

Xantolo Danza Tamazunchale

Danza de Los Comanches in Tempoal Veracruz

Hanal Pixán  - Mayan Celebration of the Dead

This is an except from the text Hanal Pixan from YucatanAll.com

Hanal Pixán is the Mayan celebration for the dead in Yucatán and Campeche. The celebration begins with "U Hanal Palal" dedicated to the souls of the departed children. November 1st celebrates the adults departed wit the "U Hanal Nucuh Uinicoob". On November 2nd "U Hanal Pixanoob" or "Misa Pixan"  is a mass dedicated to all souls generally celebrated in the local cemetery.

An altar is set in the houses to honor the deceased and the most traditional altar has three levels that represent heaven, hearth and the infraworld. Red the rest of this interesting article here.

Día de Muertos en Mérida Yucatán - Hanal Pixan - 

Hanal Pixan in Pomuch Campeche

This is an except from an article of Diario Yucatan

The celebration for the dead in Pomuch Campeche is very unique as family of the deceased visit them in the cemeteries around October 28. For those who have died at least three years before, the families clean the tombs but also the  bones and covered with embroidered napkins. The reason is that when the souls of the deceased  comeback on November 2nd  they will find their bones clean. The napkins used to cover the bones are embroidered with figures related with the personality and age of the deceased loved one. The napkin represent the clothing of the deceased and must be new, otherwise the soul won't comeback to visit the tomb.

Dia de Muertos en Pomuch Campeche

Images from Google:
Pan de Muerto / Bread of the Dead images
Altar de Muerto images
Calaveras de azucar / Sugar Skulls images
Day of the Dead in Mixquic images

Down to the Bone (short film) / Hasta Los Huesos (Cortometraje) - Rene Castillo

San Andrés Mixquic

Courtesy of:  Casa Las Margaritas in Barra de Navidad Jalisco 

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Mexican Christmas Traditions: Candelaria - Candlemas Celebration and "Levantada del Niño Dios"

Mexican Christmas Traditions - Levantada del Niño Dios

On February 2nd. we celebrate in Mexico "Día de la Candelaria" / Candlemas celebration and also another Christmas Tradition known as "Levantada del Niño Dios".
Levantada del Niño Dios: In this celebration the image of Baby Jesus is dressed up with clothing (dress, shoes, socks, hat, etc ) given as a gift by friends who are invited as godparents. Lullabies are song and the image of Baby Jesus is placed on a tray with chocolates and candies. Each person kiss the "Niño Dios"  image and take some candies from the tray.

The dresses sold for this ceremony are similar to the ones babies wear for the baptism ceremony, but, we can also find dresses that represent different saints.

Dia de La Candelaria: This is the celebration of the presentation of Baby Jesus to the temple. Candles are blessed in this day and also people who found a baby Jesus doll in their piece of "rosca" on the 3 Wise Men Celebration organize a party where the main meal are tamales and atole.

Why tamales and atole in the Candlemas celebration? This very interesting article from Mexico Desconocido (shared by @copasycorchos) explains that the tradition of tamales and atole is a pre-hispanic tradition. tamales are made of corn and were offered to the gods by indigenous people in this day that was the first day of the year in the Aztec calendar. Tamales were also offered in different celebrations and it was the belief that man were made of corn by gods.

Candlemas Celebration - Tamales are served during this celebration

Baby Jesus dresses for the "Levantada" celebration

Barrio San Felipe de Jesus Festivity - Barra de Navidad

Barra de Navidad Barrio Patron Saint Philip of Jesus

"El Barrio de San Felipe te invita a la fiesta en honor de su Santo"

The neighborhood commonly known as "El Barrio" has a saint, and its name is actually Barrio San Felipe de Jesus (Philip of Jesus) in honor of this Mexican Martyr Saint who died in Japan in  February 5 1597.

There is Fiesta in el Barrio to celebrate San Felipe de Jesus. The celebrations are from February 2nd. till February 5th. in the San Felipe de Jesus church and the program is as follow: 

5:30 a.m. Fireworks

6:30 a.m. Rosary

7:00 p.m. Mass  

6:00 p.m. Pilgrimage and Floats starting by the High School walking to the church

8:00 p.m. Kermess, Loteria (Bingo), toritos (structure on a shape of a bull loaded with fireworks. A person carry the "torito" and chase people around when the fireworks are lit up ), castillos (towers with fireworks attached that form different colorful figures). 

San Felipe de Jesus church is located in Oceano Indico and Ejidatarios streets.

Everyboy is welcome! 

Pilgrimage in honor of Patron Saint St. Philip of Jesus in Barra de Navidad

Celebration in honor of Patron Saint St. Philip of Jesus in the barrio in Barra de Navidad

St. Philip of Jesus Chapel in barrio of Barra de Navidad - Celebration in honor of Patron Saint St. Philip of Jesus

Lighting up Fireworks "bombas" at 5 am and in the evening - Celebration in honor of Patron Saint St. Philip of Jesus in the barrio in Barra de Navidad