Christmas Traditions in San Miguel

As curious travelers, we were eager to learn more about local Christmas traditions in San Miguel. The most evident tradition was the holiday decorations that were everywhere. The cobblestone streets were festooned with colorful punched tin (hojalata) stars, paper lanterns, and piñatas. The main plaza had a life-sized creche and a tall Christmas tree. Windows and doors had festive garlands. After dark, the lights made everything look magical.

There were many holiday events scheduled. We attended one at the Centro Cultural El Nigromante, San Miguel’s cultural center. The program was called Posada Mexicana. It started with a Folk Dance Workshop in the cultural center’s theater. The traditional dances featured colorful costumes and lively music. The dancers tossed sweets into the audience, first from their shawls and then from a piñata. There were elaborate masks in some dances - a bull, a cow, an angel and devil, an old man. The audience was mostly local families, with many children. Everyone loved it!

After the dancing was La Posada, the traditional Mexican Christmas procession re-enacting Mary and Joseph’s attempts to find lodging in Bethlehem. We joined the parade just outside the theater walked the perimeter of a large courtyard. We could hear the singing, but it was difficult to see the Mary, Joseph and Angel characters at the front of the procession. At the end of the posada, we were handed cups of warm, sweet punch and bags of treats. My treat bag contained oranges, peanuts, animal crackers, and a variety of chocolates and candies. It was fun to experience this traditional Mexican celebration of Christmas.