DECEMBER IN SAN MIGUEL DE ALLENDE
- Natalie Taylor
- 3 hours ago
- 4 min read
A season of joy
December is a continuous string of celebrations in Mexico, and also in San Miguel. The Christmas holiday season begins on December 12 with the feast of the Virgin of Guadalupe and ends on February 2nd with Candelaria—Candlemas. The almost two-month period is marked by gatherings of family and friends, good food, and ancient traditions. For Christians, the main focus is December 24 and the birth of Jesus, an event both joyful and solemn. But there is so much that happens before that, bringing together Spanish and indigenous elements.
The posadas, for example, are a Spanish tradition that became an integral part of the Christmas holidays in Mexico. Posada (inn) is a reenactment of Joseph and Mary’s search for shelter, and a place to give birth to Jesus. Family and friends go from home to home, requesting lodging. All is prearranged; the hosts wait for the visitors who dress in appropriate garb, and upon their arrival the scene is played out. The visitors recite verses asking to come in, and those inside deny entry, reenacting the many rejections experienced by Joseph and Mary on their quest. After several exchanges, the hosts relent and open the doors to the visitors. Then the party begins! The hosts provide food and drinks, and everyone has a good time. This takes place outside many homes over many weeks leading to December 24.
The pastorelas (from pastor, shepherd) are plays often performed at schools and public places. The storyline is about shepherds on a journey to visit the baby Jesus. A mischievous devil tries to tempt them, and an angel helps them avoid temptation. The colorful costumes, the silly behavior of the shepherds, tell the story of good triumphing over evil with music and humor, often including much slapstick. All these celebrations are marked by a lot of merriment, almost daily festivities, and naturally fireworks. But the 24th is the culmination of the awaited birth of Jesus, a final posada, and the placement of a doll representing Jesus in the cradles of nativity scenes. At this point, the celebration takes on a solemn tone, with midnight mass followed by a family meal.
If you wish to be part of posadas, you need to befriend a local family and hope for an invitation. The pastorelas are often public performances in schools or local theater venues, and many times, posadas are also part of the tradition in schools. So get involved in the community, and you will eventually witness these yourself.
A unique festival is celebrated in Oaxaca during this time period. It is called Noche de los Rábanos—Night of the Radishes, where farmers carve intricate figures and scenes from large radishes, which they bring out on December 23.
The festival’s origins can be traced back to colonial times when radishes were introduced to the region by Spanish colonizers.
Those are the Mexican Christian celebrations in December, but there are other creeds and traditions in our town, and they have their own unique festivities during the season. Hanukkah is an eight-day Jewish holiday that celebrates the recovery of Jerusalem.
It is called the “Festival of Lights," after the miraculous event whereby a small amount of oil for a temple lamp lasted for eight days instead of just one. Families light one candle each night on a nine-branched candelabra, along with singing, playing games, and eating foods fried in oil.
Kwanzaa is a 20th-century adaptation of an old African celebration. It focuses on community building, with gatherings, music, storytelling, and a large feast on December 31. Candles are also a part of the tradition, with seven lighted candles representing people and their struggles.
Yalda or Chelle Night is an ancient Persian festival that celebrates the winter solstice between December 20 and 21. On the longest and darkest night of the year, friends and family gather to eat, drink, and read poetry until well after midnight when they greet the new dawn. The typical meal includes nuts and fruits such as pomegranates and watermelons. The red color of those fruits symbolizes dawn’s crimson hues and the glow of life. The celebration has been listed as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage since 2022
Another winter solstice celebration is Yule, a winter festival of the ancient Germanic people, it marked the transition from the darkest, shortest day of the year as it moves toward lengthening days. It eventually merged with Christian traditions, and the date was changed to December 25. Those who celebrate Yule do so with a mix of modern and old rituals, incorporating Christian traditions such as decorating with evergreens, feasts, and gift-giving.
These are only some of the other festivities that take place around the time of Christmas. What connects them all is a sense of joy, goodwill, and hope for a better future. All these celebrations focus on coming together with family and friends, good food, and cheer!
But aside from the main holidays celebrated in December, there are a few more that are either unique, unexpected, or often amusing. Did you know, for example, that December 4 is both National Sock and National Brown Shoe Day? I guess you can wear both if you feel like recognizing both the sock and the shoe. Or that the 5th is National Ninja Day? And on the 9th of the month you ought to send greetings to your pet’s doctor; it is Veterinary Medicine Day.
May we be united in this season by a sense of playfulness and joy. Happy holidays!