If you look at my website today, you’ll still see the Happy New Year banner at the top of each page. Someone asked me the other day why I still had that up. It’s not because I am too busy or lazy to take it down.
Here in Mexico, the Christmas holidays last all the way to the 2nd of February, when we have one final celebration called Dia de la Candelaria or Candlemas.
Rosca de Reyes - Photo Courtesy Tamorlan
This celebration actually starts on the 6th of January with El Dia de los Reyes Magos (3 kings day) for which there is a similar amount of myth and illusion as there is for Santa Claus at Christmas. In some areas of Mexico, the Reyes Magos are more celebrated than Christmas itself… gifts are exchanged, and children are warned to be good, or they may be overlooked by the Reyes Magos. The festivities on this day culminate in the cutting of the Rosca de Reyes. The Rosca de Reyes is a ring shaped sweet bread made with butter and topped with a sugar coating and candied fruits… even candied orange peels (which are better than they sound!). Baked inside the Rosca are several tiny statuettes made to represent the baby Jesus. When it is time, everyone will gather around and cut out a section of the bread, and those that are fortunate (or unfortunate!) enough to get one of the statuettes in their slice are tasked with hosting a party on the 2nd of February where tamales and atole are typically served. Atole is a traditional drink which is heavy like hot chocolate, and even tastes a little chocolaty, but is actually made from hops (one of the grains used to make beer… but there is no alcohol here!). It is sweetened and served hot and goes down perfectly with the tamales on a cool winter night… Even in Puerto Vallarta, where the winter nights are not necessarily so cool.
For many Mexicans, February 2nd marks the real end of the Holiday season and for that reason (and because my wife asked me to) I have left the holiday decorations up a little longer.
I am interested in what you have to say; please feel free to leave a comment!