Mexican Christmas tradition for kids

Christmas is a very special occasion for kids all over. Irrespective of their age, they wait eagerly to celebrate the feast and get involved in the various traditions, which are specially meant for kids. Among the festival traditions in Mexico, there are some Mexican Christmas traditions for kids that are exclusively meant for children, but there are also general traditions where everybody takes part.

Letters to the Magi   

An interesting Mexican Christmas tradition for kids is writing letters to the three kings who are also knows as the Magi. In the letters they tell the magi about the gifts that they want for Christmas. After writing the letters, they attach the letters to colorful balloons and release them in the air. The children believe that their wishes will be conveyed, by the angelic flying horses of the three kings to the heavens to fulfill their dreams and wishes. This tradition is unlike the tradition in other parts of the world, where children write letters to Santa Claus telling him about the gifts that they want.

Nacimiento

Setting up the Christmas nativity scene which is known as nacimiento is another favorite Mexican Christmas tradition for children. It is an annual family tradition where kids take part with lots of enthusiasm. The best and the biggest room in the house are chosen by the kids and their parents to set up the nativity scene, which depicts the birth of Christ in Bethlehem. In the nacimiento, they put painted clay images of Joseph, Mary, baby Jesus, the three kings, the angels, a stable, animals etc. Children make their contribution by bringing flowers, rocks and moss to complete the scene.

Las Posadas

The las posadas are another important Christmas tradition in Mexico. Though, it is not strictly a Mexican Christmas tradition for kids, yet they take part in it and contribute to the celebrations. Las posadas basically involve the reenacting of Joseph and Mary’s journey to Bethlehem looking for shelter in an inn. On the first eight nights of this event, children dressed is costumes lead a candlelight procession of friends and while carrying tiny status of Mary and Joseph, going from house to house asking for shelter. On the ninth night they are provided shelter by a family, after which the children pray by the nacimiento and then join in a feast organized in that house.

Piñata

Breaking the piñata is a fun Mexican Christmas tradition for kids where all the children take part. The piñata is a paper figure which can be in various shapes including a star or an animal and it is filled up with candy and other small gifts. The piñata is then hung from a ceiling which the children have to break, blindfolded. The blindfolded children are handed a stick by which they have to try and break the piñata. Everybody gets a chance to break it till it is broken, after this all the children scramble to collect the candies and gifts that fall out from it.