December and January are popular months to visit Mexico and with good reason: a lot is happening and you will be able to witness some special traditional celebrations. These tend to be the coldest months of the year, so regardless of your destination, you should bring a sweater just in case, and maybe even a jacket if you’re heading to high altitude locations. December has many festivals and events to attend. The feast day of the patron saint of Mexico, Our Lady of Guadalupe, falls on the 12th, and the Christmas celebrations begin on the 16th with the posadas. This is the high season for many destinations, and particularly the last two weeks. December can be very crowded, so be sure to make reservations in advance. Here is a list of some of the most important festivals and events in Mexico this December:
01
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Tropical music festival in Acapulco
Music lovers won’t want to miss this three-day festival held at the Pierre Mundo Imperial Hotel in Acapulco, Guerrero. Festival goers and musicians come from all over the world for this beachfront festival featuring artists like Blonde Redhead, Kelela, and DJ Harvey. However, Tropico is about more than music: art exhibits, fashion events, and pool parties with tropical cocktails and delicious food are also part of the celebration.
02
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Riviera Maya Jazz Festival
Playa del Carmen is home to the leading national and international jazz musicians who perform under the stars at Mamita’s Beach Club. Lineups in recent years have included stars like Sheila E, Gino Vanelli, Earth, Wind & Fire, Aguamala, and Level 42. Attendance at the concert is free, and there are generally thousands of spectators who attend each night, so if you plan to go be sure to get there early!
03
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Day of the Virgin of Guadalupe
The feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe on December 12 commemorates the traditional account of her first appearances to Juan Diego in 1531 on the hill of Tepeyac, near Mexico City. The main celebrations take place in Mexico City, where thousands of pilgrims converge on the Basilica of Guadalupe to pay homage to the patron saint of Mexico. The square in front of the Basilica is a stage for singing, dancing and celebrating. Most cities in Mexico have a church or shrine dedicated to this manifestation of the Virgin Mary, and parents dress their children in traditional clothing and take them to be blessed on this day (and for a photo opportunity) .
04
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Posada and Piñata Fair (Posada and Piñata Fair)
The Mexican Christmas traditions of piñatas and posadas are celebrated in an annual celebration near Mexico City, in the town of Acolman de Nezahualcóyotl (near Teotihuacan), where the custom of breaking decorated clay pots suspended from a wall is said to have begun. rope, introduced by the Augustinian friars in the 16th century. This festival includes piñata-making workshops offered to attendees, as well as horse races, bullfights, nativity scenes, regional dances, popular music shows and “pastorelas”, a type of play based on the Christmas story. Learn more about the history and meaning of the piñata.
05
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Taste of Cabo
Some of the world’s most famous chefs gather for the annual Sabor a Cabo food and wine festival in Los Cabos. There are two major events held during the festival, a regional cuisine event held in the organic garden of the Los Tamarindos Farm to Table restaurant, and a magna event held in Quivira Los Cabos, a residential community that is home to a golf course and the Quivira Club. of Golf. These two events offer the opportunity to sample some of the best dishes that Cabo has to offer.
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Inns
In Mexico, special celebrations are held every night from December 16 to 24, before Mass on Christmas Eve. Neighborhoods and families organize processions that culminate in house parties known as posadas , in which the journey of María and José to Bethlehem is represented.
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Night of the Radishes
The city of Oaxaca celebrates each year a unique Christmas celebration on December 23. Local artisans carve and assemble radishes into different types of figures and scenes, from flowers and animals to saints and nativity scenes. The city’s main square, known as the Zócalo, is lined with stalls, and crowds of people wait in turn to view the impressive displays during this popular event.
08
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Christmas (Christmas)
The last posada takes place on Christmas Eve, which in Spanish is called Nochebuena , and it is traditional for families to come together for a nightly dinner that includes traditional Mexican Christmas dishes. In the cities there are calendas , festive processions and other public celebrations.
09
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New Years (New Years Eve)
There are a wide variety of New Year’s Eve celebrations in Mexico, and they range from raucous to quiet, but there are many superstitions and beliefs about what to do to ensure good fortune for the coming year, including the color of underwear to have on when the clock strikes 12.
