Well, here it is, the day before Christmas, the ocean is dark blue, not a cloud in the sky, the sun is shining, the trees are dark green, and the birds are “chattering” all around. At midnight on this day, Christmas Eve or "Noche Buena," the birth of Christ is proclaimed with fireworks, the ringing of church bells and the blowing of whistles.
The focus is religious; the atmosphere joyous. It's one of the major fiestas of the year and just about everyone takes off the last two weeks of December - to spend time with their families, to visit old friends, to make new friends and to celebrate.
This is also the day in Mexico when one of the most festive dinners of the year is served, the Noche Buena Dinner.
For the many days before Christmas, people have gotten together for posada’s - reenactments of Mary and Joseph's search for shelter in Bethlehem. They always end up at the home of whatever neighbor lets them in, whereupon piñatas are broken, fruit and candy are devoured by the children, and punch, tamales and fritters called buñuelos are enjoyed by all. The punch, flavored with seasonal fruits like tejocote (hawthorn fruit) inevitably shows up at the Noche Buena dinner as well, along with the eggnog-like rompope (first made by the colonial-era nuns at the Convent of Santa Clara in Puebla) and a variety of other seasonal specialties.
The dishes served at this meal vary, mole and romerito, tamales, pozole, and chocolate with churros and buñuelos. But most often in modern day Mexico, a turkey is the main attraction, no matter what regional dishes accompany it. And this is what we’ll be enjoying tonight. Good friends of ours from Canada have invited us to their home for a Noche Buena turkey dinner. I’m certain we will be safe and snug back in our casa before all the celebration breaks loose; however, we are prepared to smile throughout the night as sounds of the celebrations of the Mexican community will continue with music, joy, and the noises of the children breaking the many piñatas.
The Calle. Pilitas Piñata Team
The "Piñata" a paper maché container of various colors and shapes are filled with candy and toys. On our street it's hung from a line attached to both sides of the street, and one at a time, the children are blindfolded spun around and given turns to try smashing the Piñata open (all the while an adult raises and lowers the piñata to prevent an early breaking. There are many piñatas provided by the adults and the resultant shrieks as the children collect the candy and toys as they spills into the street goes on and on and on…lol.
The focus is religious; the atmosphere joyous. It's one of the major fiestas of the year and just about everyone takes off the last two weeks of December - to spend time with their families, to visit old friends, to make new friends and to celebrate.
This is also the day in Mexico when one of the most festive dinners of the year is served, the Noche Buena Dinner.
For the many days before Christmas, people have gotten together for posada’s - reenactments of Mary and Joseph's search for shelter in Bethlehem. They always end up at the home of whatever neighbor lets them in, whereupon piñatas are broken, fruit and candy are devoured by the children, and punch, tamales and fritters called buñuelos are enjoyed by all. The punch, flavored with seasonal fruits like tejocote (hawthorn fruit) inevitably shows up at the Noche Buena dinner as well, along with the eggnog-like rompope (first made by the colonial-era nuns at the Convent of Santa Clara in Puebla) and a variety of other seasonal specialties.
The dishes served at this meal vary, mole and romerito, tamales, pozole, and chocolate with churros and buñuelos. But most often in modern day Mexico, a turkey is the main attraction, no matter what regional dishes accompany it. And this is what we’ll be enjoying tonight. Good friends of ours from Canada have invited us to their home for a Noche Buena turkey dinner. I’m certain we will be safe and snug back in our casa before all the celebration breaks loose; however, we are prepared to smile throughout the night as sounds of the celebrations of the Mexican community will continue with music, joy, and the noises of the children breaking the many piñatas.
The Calle. Pilitas Piñata TeamThe "Piñata" a paper maché container of various colors and shapes are filled with candy and toys. On our street it's hung from a line attached to both sides of the street, and one at a time, the children are blindfolded spun around and given turns to try smashing the Piñata open (all the while an adult raises and lowers the piñata to prevent an early breaking. There are many piñatas provided by the adults and the resultant shrieks as the children collect the candy and toys as they spills into the street goes on and on and on…lol.
Christmas Day (Navidad) is an unearthly quiet Mexican day, as the families and children sleep and recover after the all-night festivities.
ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!
ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!
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