Mexican Christmas decorations are a beautiful down to earth way to create a traditional Christmas atmosphere that is the cornerstone of the religious Mexican celebration of the birth of Christ. Read our guide for more facts & information…
When it comes to a Mexican Christmas, you can forget about the commercialized, fairytale-esque decorations that are so prevalent in Western culture today. The Mexican Christmas is very religious, and has solid traditions that do not feature a tree, presents or Santa. Moreover, it is a very traditional and very holy event, a mark of the Roman Catholic faith which is the dominant religion in Mexico. The most notable decoration in any Mexican household during the Christmas season is a Nativity scene. Many are large heirlooms that have additional pieces added each year, and can be very detailed. Many have even been known to include an entire village of people. Whilst most of the “characters” are small figurine size, the baby Jesus is often life-size.
Christmas Piñata
Breaking the piñata is traditionally a Christmas event for the children (who customarily receive their presents on January 6th), and was, until recently, made from a clay pot decorated in crepe paper. These days, they are predominantly made from cardboard for safety reasons. The piñata is traditionally in the shape of a star for Christmas, presumably to symbolize the Star of Bethlehem. It can also come in many different styles, including doves, which are also a common Christmas motif.
Poinsettia
Another traditional Mexican Christmas decoration is the poinsettia, which is a native plant of Mexico and which also has a heartwarming tale attached to it. Legend has it that a very poor child did not have the means to buy Christ a gift, so picked some weeds and left them at the manger. The weeds bloomed and became a beautiful poinsettia. The poinsettia’s vibrant red and green foliage and yellow flower has a very distinctive Christmas feel, and the formation of the red leaves is also said to represent the Star of Bethlehem. The red is also said to represent the blood of Jesus Christ. Poinsettia is a fantastic indoor plant in cold regions, and is very readily available around Christmas time. Note, however, that the sap may be an irritant to young children and those with sensitive skin or a latex allergy.
Additional Mexican decorations
Celebratory decorations are generally always very colorful in Mexico, regardless of the occasion. Christmas is no exception, with great swathes of pink, teal, red, green and yellow dominating the decorations. Zerape blankets, fans and colorful tableware is all used to bring together a festive, family orientated atmosphere to the Mexican home during Christmas. More recently, however, the modern Christmas colors of red, green and white or yellow are predominantly used, as traditions become imported from the U.S.. These colors are, however, also the bright colors of the native poinsettia and the proud colors of the Mexican flag.
