If you are in Mexico in winter and want to experience the perfect Christmas Eve, here is your guide to the perfect celebration of Christmas in Mexico. First, let us all remember that this festival is all about traditions, and there are some special ones, especially surrounding Christmas. But what are these Mexican traditions? It is a mix of Spanish and other cultures developed from its history. You can plan for nearly a month-long Christmas festivities through December. And to be honest, this festive season can’t get over before February 2nd. So, let’s learn about the Christmas traditions and celebrations in Mexico.
Top Places To Visit In Mexico During Christmas
Here are the top places to visit in Mexico when looking forward to a welcome celebration. Christmas celebrations in Mexico are usually grand. However, it might vary from place to place in the entire country. So, here are a few of them:
1. San Miguel de Allende
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Christmas in Mexico is in the winter. The colourful San Miguel de Allende is situated in the central Mexico highlands. It is not just a celebratory affair but a solemn one, with posadas, piñatas, and ponche being a regular affair.
As much as the festive spirit, you will also love the time – the time of winter in Mexico. The festival and the joyous occasions would give you enough warmth.
Location: Central Mexico
How to reach: Take a flight to Mexico City airport and then travel via bus
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2. Puerto Vallarta
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The Christmas celebration in Mexico in December is incomplete without a visit to Puerto Vallarta in the Philippines. The town is situated on the Bay of Banderas alongside the Pacific Ocean, which has almost 40 miles of coastline.
This city is a popular tourist destination offering several fun activities. During Christmas, you can enjoy shopping, visit the markets and explore the 20th-century buildings and churches. Your celebrations also feature piñatas, food and drinks that are holiday-themed.
Location: Jalisco
How to reach: The Licensed Gustavo Díaz Ordaz International Airport is the major airport serving the area
3. Cabo San Lucas
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Cabo San Lucas is located in the Baja Sur state and is a picturesque destination often regarded as the “paradise on earth.” The town has thousands of beachlines offering an array of water activities.
However, one of the finest things to do in Mexico during Christmas at Cabo San Lucas is to participate in the activities organized by the restaurants and hotels during the entire Christmas season.
Location: Baja Sur
How to reach: The Los Cabos International Airport is the primary airport serving fights from all over the world
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4. Chiapas Highlands
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One of the most offbeat places to visit in Mexico during Christmas is the Chiapas Highlands. Here, you will enjoy the beautiful rivers and gushing waterfalls.
The mountainous highlands are full of colonial towns housing indigenous communities, some belonging to the Mayan traditions. The towns feature several holiday-themed activities, and the overall Christmas decor is superb.
Location: South Chiapas
How to reach: Fly to the Tuxtla Gutiérrez airport and then take cabs or buses
5. Oaxaca
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Oaxaca is one of the best places to visit in Mexico during Christmas. The architecturally beautiful city is a World Heritage Site named by UNESCO for its magnificent buildings. Located at the foothills of the Sierra Madre mountain ranges, its archaeological sites and colonial structures offer a spellbinding charm.
The city offers unique Christmas activities, including breaking plates and playing various other games. The best time to visit is between December 16th and 31st. The festive spirit is fun and exciting here.
Location: Oaxaca
How to reach: The Oaxaca International Airport is the primary mode of transportation source.
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How To Celebrate Christmas In Mexico
Christmas in Mexico is fun to celebrate, but it is somewhat different. The Mexican style is unique in many ways, making it entirely different and all the more special. While there are many rituals and traditions surrounding the festivity of Christmas in Mexico, here’s a list of 9 major events that offer an authentic glimpse of its vibrant culture and celebrations.
1. Nativity Scenes: Mexican Nativity Scene
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Christmas rituals in Mexico are different kinds of treats; the Mexican customs are a happy surprise. Many Mexican families choose and pick out Christmas trees, but the unique thing about Christmas is the nativity scenes. Nearly all the houses recreate nativity scenes, among Mexico’s most common Christmas decorations.
You will find ample Mexican families designing elaborate Nativity scenes in their backyards or inside their homes. You also get to see public births and beautiful folk art scenes. These births are set up around December 16th and get a detailed makeover. The baby Jesus is added on the night of December 24th. Then, the three kings are added on January 5th next year. This is among the most elaborate Christmas traditions in Mexico.
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2. A Mexican Christmas Posada
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The Mexican Christmas Posadas occur nine days before Christmas Day. From 16th through 24th December, various processions reenact Mary and Joseph’s search for a shelter in Bethlehem.
These different processions take viewers to a different house every night, culminating in the posada in a fiesta during Christmas in Mexico. This is one of the oldest traditions of Christmas in Mexico.
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3. Pastorelas
A unique Mexican tradition that follows Christmas is Pastorelas. These are theatrical representations of the shepherds (los pastors) capturing them when they were going to see baby Jesus. These theatrics have a long tradition and originated in colonial Mexico. They were used as a way of expression, and native people shared their thoughts on the Catholic dogmas through these presentations.
These representations have also evolved, now more like light-hearted comedy presentations. The plots generally revolve around these shepherds in the play, and they, being the protagonists, encounter numerous dangerous and challenging obstacles on their journey. They also have some room for devils and angels who make guest appearances!
4. Christmas carols
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Christmas without carols is impossible; it’s mundane, sad, and unimaginable. In Mexico, these Christmas carols are called villancicos; the word’s pronunciation sounds like “vee-yan-see-kose” in Spanish.
Some of these songs are familiar translations of English songs, such as “Noche de Paz,” the Spanish version of the carol “Silent Night.” There are also some unique melodies—these are completely different. These new carols were “Las Campanas de Belen,” which means “Bethlehem’s Bells,” and “Los Peces en el Río,” which means “The Fishes in the River.”
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5. Christmas Eve Flower
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How about spending the perfect Mexican Christmas Eve? The Mexicans have a name for it: Christmas Eve in Spanish is “Nochebuena.” Christmas Eve is marked as the very night of the last posada. The Eve is celebrated in many different ways.
Many people go to the midnight mass and then have dinner with their families. Christmas day isn’t much of a fuss, and the gifts are not that much of a rage. It is generally considered a quiet day. But this is changing, and Mexico is becoming more and more Santa Claus-friendly!
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6. Mexican Christmas Food With Fireworks
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You cannot have a Christmas without all the right Mexican food, and if you want to explore the core of Mexican Christmas, you have to understand and give yourself to the serving of Christmas food. Some of the most delicious foods, especially at a Christmas dinner in Mexico, are Noche Buena salad and Christmas punch.
Most Mexicans celebrate New Year’s Eve with a late-night dinner with their loved ones. Those who want to party generally go out. So, if you’re looking for a night out in the town, be prepared for things to get going only after midnight and plan your evening in Mexico accordingly. Learn the facts about Christmas in Mexico while you are visiting.
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7. Three Kings Day
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In Mexico, January 6th, the day of the Epiphany, is celebrated as Día de Reyes, which translates as “Kings’ Day.” The day is special for children; they receive ample gifts from the three wise men on this day! Many children now get gifts both on Christmas Day and Kings’ Day. The unique sweet bread of Mexico has to be there. Sharing a Rosca de Reyes with your friends and family is customary during Christmas.
This sweet bread is shaped like a wreath and features a cute miniature baby Jesus. The baby Jesus must be found inside the bread. The person who finds it will host a party on February 2nd, serving traditional tamales during Christmas in Mexico.
8. Candlemas Day
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It’s the day when Christmas is finally over. It’s traditionally a sad day, but what is tradition for if not for celebrating sorrows? Candlemas, or Candlemas Day, comes on February 2nd. This date officially marks the end of the Christmas season.
The celebration is enriched with people dressed up carrying the cutesy Niño Dios, the figures of the baby Jesus. They take the child Christ figure to the church to be blessed and gather people to enjoy together a plate full of tamales cooked by the person who found the baby Jesus on King’s Day or Rosca de Reyes.
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Your Mexican Christmas vacation will be different if you experience the charm of these traditions and the delicious Christmas in Mexico food on your next trip to Mexico!
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What are the activities for Christmas in Mexico?
This city's most authentic Christmas decorations and ornaments are made of tin, straw, clay, and other folk materials. Together, these items represent the standard icons of Christmas, such as angels, stars, and balls. Even decorated clay pots, cacti, or parrots can be used.
What are some of the traditions of Christmas in Mexico?
The history of Christmas in Mexico says that Mexican celebration of this festival is known as Las Posadas and it begins on 16th December. The ninth evening of this festival in Mexico is called the Buena Noche, and this marks the Christmas Eve. On this day, kids lead a procession all the way to the church and upon reaching it, they place a figure of the Christ Child inside the nativity scene there. The midnight mass follows this.
What do they eat in Mexico for Christmas?
Usually items like Ensalada de Noche Buena and Ponche Navideño are served during the Christmas dinner in Mexico. Other things Mexicans eat during Christmas include Tamales, Romeritos, Bacalao, Pozole, Pavo, and Bunuelos.
What are the main holidays in Mexico?
Some of the main holidays in Mexico include the Diez y Seis, Day of the Dead, Christmas, Lent and Easter, Dia de la Raza, the Dia de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe, and many more.
What are the best place to spend Christmas in Mexico?
Central Mexico, Yucatan Peninsula are some of the best places to spend Christmas in Mexico.
Is Christmas a good time to go to Mexico?
December is one of the best times to travel to Mexico. With cooler temperature and various festivities, Mexico becomes a hub for tourists in December.
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As a Travel Content Writer, I live to conquer the world of globetrotting with words. With my unquenchable thirst for storytelling, I believe that my words will inspire you to travel around the world’s breathtaking landscapes. As for me, I am an unapologetic selenophile, who loves to wander around in a starry night!
