La Navidad en México La Navidad en México (Christmas in Mexico)(Christmas in Mexico)

p.4 (Cultura)p.4 (Cultura)

©MFL Sunderland 2006 http://www.sunderlandschools.org/mfl-sunderland

Las actividades Las actividades navideñas navideñas

empiezan el 16 de empiezan el 16 de diciembre y duran diciembre y duran

hasta el 6 de hasta el 6 de enero. chuntienero. chunti

LAS POSADASLAS POSADAS(Inn)

Las Posadas- Son unas celebraciones del viaje (journey) de José y la Virgen María. Las posadas son recreaciones (recreation) del viaje de ellos a Belén cuando estaban tratando de buscar una posada (inn/hotel).

La Celebración- Cada familia en un barrio (neighborhood) se turna una noche y celebra con una posada en su casa cantando canciones; empiezan el 16 de diciembre y terminan el 24 en la Noche Buena. Hay nueve posadas para representar los nueve meses de embarazo de la Virgen María. Chunti.

LA PIÑATA LA PIÑATA Después de las posadas, Después de las posadas,

sigue la fiesta para los sigue la fiesta para los niños. Se les celebraniños. Se les celebra con una Piñata, la cual la cual está llena de cacahuates está llena de cacahuates (maní), caramelos (maní), caramelos envueltos.envueltos.

El niño trata de romper la El niño trata de romper la piñata con un palo y con piñata con un palo y con los ojos vendadoslos ojos vendados. Chunti.. Chunti.

You will hear the parents and You will hear the parents and children singing this song children singing this song before a child hits the before a child hits the PiñataPiñata : :

"¡Dale,  dale,  dale,"¡Dale,  dale,  dale,no pierdas el tino,no pierdas el tino,

porque si lo pierdes,porque si lo pierdes,pierdes el camino,pierdes el camino,Una, dos, tres!"Una, dos, tres!"      

("Strike it, Strike it, Strike it,("Strike it, Strike it, Strike it,don't lose your aim,  don't lose your aim,  because if you lose it,because if you lose it,

you won't find your way!you won't find your way!One, two, three!" )One, two, three!" )

Muestra el video

El NACIMIENTOEl NACIMIENTONativity Scene

EL NACIMIENTOEL NACIMIENTO

El Nacimiento es una representación del nacimiento de Jesucristo, que se suele exponer durante la Navidad en hogares, iglesias y muchos centros públicos, como escuelas y comercios, etc.

LA FLOR DE NOCHE BUENA LA FLOR DE NOCHE BUENA (Poinsettias)(Poinsettias)

La Flor de Noche buena La Flor de Noche buena es originaria es originaria (native/original) de (native/original) de México. México.

LA NOCHE BUENALA NOCHE BUENA 24th December24th December

(Christmas Eve)(Christmas Eve)

Celebration of a late-night Celebration of a late-night Misa de Misa de GalloGallo (Rooster's Mass) (Rooster's Mass)

Modern influences have introduced Modern influences have introduced the Christmas tree and Santa Claus the Christmas tree and Santa Claus

Open gifts at midnight. Everyone Open gifts at midnight. Everyone hugs and kisses (party till 4 a.m.)hugs and kisses (party till 4 a.m.)

PiñatasPiñatas and and luces de Belenluces de Belen (sparklers) (sparklers)

Traditional Christmas supperTraditional Christmas supper

Tamales Tamales ((A Mexican dish of A Mexican dish of seasoned meat wrapped in seasoned meat wrapped in cornmeal dough and cornmeal dough and steamed or baked in corn steamed or baked in corn husks.)husks.)

Pavo Pavo (turkey(turkey)) MoleMole (a spicy chocolate (a spicy chocolate

sauce) . sauce) . PonchePonche (a hot fruit punch), (a hot fruit punch), Champurrado Champurrado (hot (hot

chocolate) chocolate) PosolePosole (soup or stew) (soup or stew)

La NAVIDAD La NAVIDAD (Christmas day)(Christmas day)

A large reunion A large reunion

Around three o’clock in the Around three o’clock in the afternoon, what it is known as afternoon, what it is known as

““recalentadorecalentado”, because the ”, because the Christmas meal is reheated from the Christmas meal is reheated from the

previous night previous night

DIA DE REYES (Three Kings Day)DIA DE REYES (Three Kings Day)

El 6 de eneroEl 6 de enero

La celebración en la cual los niños reciben La celebración en la cual los niños reciben los juguete el 6 de enero, "el día de Reyes" los juguete el 6 de enero, "el día de Reyes" o Los Reyes Magos (wise). Fueron los Reyes o Los Reyes Magos (wise). Fueron los Reyes Magos quienes le llevaron los regalos al Magos quienes le llevaron los regalos al Niño Jesús, por consiguiente, son ellos Niño Jesús, por consiguiente, son ellos quienes traen los regalos a los niños y a las quienes traen los regalos a los niños y a las niñas que se han portado bien. Los niños niñas que se han portado bien. Los niños ponen sus zapatos cerca de la ventana para ponen sus zapatos cerca de la ventana para que los Reyes Magos le pongan el regalo en que los Reyes Magos le pongan el regalo en su zapato. Si el regalo es más grande que el su zapato. Si el regalo es más grande que el zapato, entonces lo ponen al lado. Varios zapato, entonces lo ponen al lado. Varios niños reciben un par de zapatos (calzado) niños reciben un par de zapatos (calzado) nuevo como regalo.nuevo como regalo.

La Rosca de Reyes (el 6 de enero) es un pan en forma de una (el 6 de enero) es un pan en forma de una corona, que está hecha con muchos huevos y es muy corona, que está hecha con muchos huevos y es muy grande, está cubierta con frutas cristalizadas y azúcar grande, está cubierta con frutas cristalizadas y azúcar encima, pero adentro hay una figurita de cerámica que encima, pero adentro hay una figurita de cerámica que representa al Niño Jesús. La persona a la que le toque la pieza representa al Niño Jesús. La persona a la que le toque la pieza del pan con la figurita, tiene que ser el Padrino o la Madrina del pan con la figurita, tiene que ser el Padrino o la Madrina del Niño Jesdel Niño Jesúús en el Día de la Candelaria, el dos de febrero. s en el Día de la Candelaria, el dos de febrero.

“La Rosca de Reyes” (Three Kings Cake) Kings’ Ring

Los Santos InocentesLos Santos Inocentes(Spanish Speaking Countries)(Spanish Speaking Countries)

December 28th is a day of practical jokes in most Spanish speaking countries, it is similar to what we in the USA celebrate on April Fool’s Day. Dia de los Santos Inocentes –Day of the Holy Innocents is a religious holiday named in honor of the young children who were slaughtered by order of King Herod around the time of Jesus’ birth. These young victims were called Santos Inocentes or “Holy Innocents” because they were too young and innocent to have committedany sins.

Today most Spanish children play simple pranks like putting salt in the sugar bowl or sticking paper cut-outs on people's backs. These little practical jokes are called Inocentadas. However, unusual celebrations stemming from ancient traditions continue to be held, such as the “Flour Battle” that takes place in Spain.

Puerto RicoPuerto RicoAttend a Misa de AguinaldoAttend a Misa de Aguinaldo

From December 15-24, churches conduct From December 15-24, churches conduct misas de misas de aguinaldo aguinaldo (present/ Christmas carol)(present/ Christmas carol),, masses held masses held at dawn featuring the singing of at dawn featuring the singing of aguinaldos aguinaldos ((Christmas carols)Christmas carols),, which are Puerto Rican versions which are Puerto Rican versions of Christmas Carols.of Christmas Carols.

Catch a ParrandaCatch a Parranda A A parrandaparranda (to go out on the town or to go out partying)(to go out on the town or to go out partying)..

It is basically a group of people or carolers, who will travel It is basically a group of people or carolers, who will travel

around the neighborhood singing around the neighborhood singing aguinaldos (Christmas carols). aguinaldos (Christmas carols).

Parrandas get going in late November and can still be found in Parrandas get going in late November and can still be found in January.January.

La Noche Buena La Noche Buena Christmas Eve trumps Christmas Day for most Puerto Ricans. This is when a typical Christmas Eve trumps Christmas Day for most Puerto Ricans. This is when a typical

Puerto Rican Christmas dinner is served.Puerto Rican Christmas dinner is served. lechónlechón (roast pork), (roast pork), The traditional Christmas dessert is The traditional Christmas dessert is temblequetembleque, which is a kind of custard with , which is a kind of custard with

coconut, cornstarch, vanilla, and cinnamon. coconut, cornstarch, vanilla, and cinnamon. Instead of eggnog, you’ll have Instead of eggnog, you’ll have coquitocoquito, or coconut nog, or coconut nog After dinner, many Puerto Ricans attend a midnight mass known as the After dinner, many Puerto Ricans attend a midnight mass known as the Misa de GalloMisa de Gallo

or “Rooster’s Mass.” You might just catch a live reenactment of the nativity scene. or “Rooster’s Mass.” You might just catch a live reenactment of the nativity scene.

““Three Kings Day”Three Kings Day” Collect Grass for the CamelsCollect Grass for the Camels

On the night before January 6, Three Kings Day, Puerto On the night before January 6, Three Kings Day, Puerto Rican children collect grass and place it in a shoebox under Rican children collect grass and place it in a shoebox under their beds for the Three Kings' Camels to eat. (The Kings their beds for the Three Kings' Camels to eat. (The Kings themselves don't get a plate of cookies or a glass of warm themselves don't get a plate of cookies or a glass of warm milk.) chuntimilk.) chunti

Celebrate Three Kings DayCelebrate Three Kings Day The grand finale of the season for most of the island is The grand finale of the season for most of the island is El El Día de los Tres Reyes Magos (wise)Día de los Tres Reyes Magos (wise), or "Three Kings , or "Three Kings Day." This day is marked with a large celebration in San Day." This day is marked with a large celebration in San Juan, and children can go to Juan, and children can go to La FortalezaLa Fortaleza, the governor's , the governor's mansion, to receive free gifts. chuntimansion, to receive free gifts. chunti

Eat Your Grapes (uvas)Eat Your Grapes (uvas) New Year's Eve in Puerto Rico is appropriately called New Year's Eve in Puerto Rico is appropriately called

Año ViejoAño Viejo, or "Old Year," and it's a fun time to be , or "Old Year," and it's a fun time to be outside; fireworks, and honking cars. At the stroke of outside; fireworks, and honking cars. At the stroke of midnight, local tradition demands that you eat 12 midnight, local tradition demands that you eat 12 grapes (uvas) for luck. You'll also find some people grapes (uvas) for luck. You'll also find some people sprinkling sugar outside their house for good luck or sprinkling sugar outside their house for good luck or throwing a bucket of water out the window to expel all throwing a bucket of water out the window to expel all the negatives of the old year and get ready for a fresh the negatives of the old year and get ready for a fresh start. As for where to be when the clock strikes 12, start. As for where to be when the clock strikes 12, head to the Puerto Rico Convention Center for the head to the Puerto Rico Convention Center for the fireworks show. fireworks show. They also do this in some parts of They also do this in some parts of Mexico.Mexico.

CubaCuba

Cuba became an atheist nation in 1962, when Fidel Castro decided that celebrating it Cuba became an atheist nation in 1962, when Fidel Castro decided that celebrating it was interfering with the sugar harvest.  Accordingly, it was dropped from the Cuban was interfering with the sugar harvest.  Accordingly, it was dropped from the Cuban calendar of holidays in 1969 as the island strove for a record sugar harvest.  calendar of holidays in 1969 as the island strove for a record sugar harvest. 

Cuban authorities banned the public display of Christmas trees and nativity scenes, Cuban authorities banned the public display of Christmas trees and nativity scenes, other than in places frequented by tourists, such as hotels. But in 1997, President other than in places frequented by tourists, such as hotels. But in 1997, President Castro restored the holiday to honor, in the honor of the visit of Pope John Paul II in Castro restored the holiday to honor, in the honor of the visit of Pope John Paul II in the island. the island.

¡FELIZ NAVIDAD ¡FELIZ NAVIDAD

Y Y

CHUNTICHUNTI

PRÓSPERO AÑO PRÓSPERO AÑO NUEVO!NUEVO!