Our Latino culture is rich in traditions, especially during Christmas as we see it reflected in beautiful decorations. Christmas is also known as Navidad — and you sure have heard the “Feliz Navidad” song.

Every country in Latin American has traditions that are specific to them, but for this article, we’ll focus on traditions specific to Mexico.

Mexican Christmas traditions kick off on the 3rd of December by honoring La Virgen of Guadalupe and ends with the Day of Purification celebrated on the 2nd of February.

Let’s take a look at some of the Mexican traditions and decor. Disclaimer, some of the following are still known all over Latin America.

THE NACIMIENTOS

This is a very popular Christmas decoration in Mexico and all over Latin America, also known as pesebre. It represents Christ’s birth in which Joseph and Mary are in a manger welcoming baby Jesus. A Mexican Christmas is incomplete without a Nacimiento. People also represent their family heirloom via this decoration. A new piece can be added every year to make the display more remarkable. One more unique feature of this decoration is a life-size baby Jesus.

LIGHTS AND ORNAMENTS

Christmas decorations when put up with a Mexican touch adds rustic beauty to the traditional Christmas tree. The most bona fide adornments are made from clay, straw, tin or some other folk materials. They may be angles, balls or stars. Then there are Mexican ornaments such as cactus, decorated pots of clay or parrots.

If you want to enrich the experience, you might moreover incorporate tree lights shaped as sombreros or chili peppers. These lights can be utilized as garlands or mantel decorations.

PAPEL PICADO

Today, papel picado is recognized worldwide as an ornament. It is used mainly on November 1 and 2 to celebrate Día de los Muertos, but extends to international holidays and private events such Christmas, New Year’s, as well as weddings or baptisms.

POINSETTIAS

Poinsettia is one of the most popular flowers when it comes to Christmas, which is Guatemala and Mexico’s native plant. The association dates back to the 16th century. According to the legends, a poor girl did not have any gifts to celebrate the birth of Jesus hence an angel gave guidance to her to pick weeds and keep them before the church. After she placed them the weeds bloomed into beautiful red flowers that came to be known as poinsettias. They are a common representation of the Latino holiday season.

PIÑATAS

Though the origin of pinata was from China, it has now become popular in Mexico. It is a religious instructional tool. It is a paper mache that is brightly colored and is filled with lots of treats and candy. It is hung from a tree during the celebration. The people who participate in the game are blindfolded and then are given a stick so as to hit the pinata. Once a person succeeds in breaking the pinata the contents come falling down and people rush in to grab the treats. The pinata enhances the festive feeling.

There are a number of ways in which Latino Christmas is celebrated. It is full of traditions rich in culture and history.  The more colorful, the better.