圣诞快乐 Merry Christmas
来自墨西哥的祝福!
我的大部分家人都住在墨西哥那个我从小长大的城市里。通常我们与父母、兄弟姐妹和他们的家人在这里欢度圣诞。
墨西哥的传统与北美、中美洲和南美洲的其他国家非常相似。这是与家人度过的时节,相聚一起,有晚餐、玩乐、聊天、游戏、歌唱和礼物。
这个庆祝活动的起源与宗教有关,但它已经演变成一个更商业化的事物,对商业有利,我想对每个人也如此。
“圣诞节”这个词来源于“基督”,这个节日主要庆祝耶稣基督在12月25日诞生。我想重要或有趣的事情是我们如何庆祝它。
在墨西哥,庆祝活动从每年的12月12日开始,1月6日结束。日期在任何一年都不会改变。始于12月12日,因为这是另一个重要的宗教节日,与耶稣基督的母亲圣母玛利亚的诞生有关。墨西哥是一个在宗教方面极其虔诚的国家,90%以上的人是天主教徒,这也是这个日子之所以特别重要和备受推崇的主要原因。
12月12日是假期的正式开始,从这一天一直到12月23日,在墨西哥人们称之为“Posadas”。
人们在posadas做些什么?嗯,这只是和朋友聚会的理由,大多数时候在不同人的家里,有时在吃饭、喝酒、唱歌、聊天的餐馆里。通常晚上7点或8点开始,也可能结束很晚至凌晨2点或3点。更家庭式的posada会有更多孩子参加并一起玩游戏,或打破装满糖果和小礼物的“ 皮纳塔”(一种用于墨西哥欢度圣诞节风俗仪式的道具)。
更大的派对或庆祝活动在12月24日,当你和家人相聚一起,我说的家人不仅是直系亲属,还包括任何与你有亲戚关系的人,比如父母、兄弟、姐妹、侄子、侄女、祖父祖母外公外婆(当你有他们的时候)、还有姻亲家属。有时,这个家庭节日聚会多达30-40人。我们通常聚在父母家里,或者是那些拥有最大的房子并愿意做东道主的人家里。因为耶稣诞生的宗教原因,人们白天去教堂,但是到了晚上,一切充满欢乐和庆祝。一顿丰盛的晚餐,火鸡通常是主菜,还有其他各种食物。饮料、音乐、唱歌、跳舞、聊天,总是欢声笑语。人们会做一件重要的事情,就是家庭成员之间交换礼物。这也是为什么你会在圣诞树下看到那么多礼物的原因。还有的传统就是室内和室外的节日装饰。
派对可以持续到深夜。第二天,也就是25日,人们还是会在白天聚会,但会以一种更放松的方式进行。当孩子们早上醒来时,他们在树下会发现圣诞老人带给他们的礼物。
下一个重要的节日是一年的最后一天,并以1月6日的庆祝活动结束假期。
总之这是一个快乐的时节,其中最重要的一天是12月24日。通常人们从12月23日到1月2日不需上班。这个假期在某种程度上类似于春节,人们走访并与所爱的人一起庆祝,吃饭,聊天和玩乐。
在文化和传统上,墨西哥和中国在许多事情上非常相似,都是高度重视家庭的社会。
我个人最高兴的是这是一个我与父母、妻子和孩子亲近的时刻,与我的兄弟姐妹和他们的家人一起庆祝这个节日。我们也与我妻子的家人一起庆祝。这几乎是一年中唯一的见到他们并与他们交谈的时间。
当您有一个大家庭时,这尤其特别。我很幸运,不仅在我这边,在我妻子那边也有一个大家庭。有时候,这些聚会非常大和有趣。唯一的问题是你必须买很多礼物,而且可能相当昂贵!
Greetings from Mexico!
Most of my family live in Mexico in the City where I grew up as kid. This is where we usually spend our Christmas with our parents, brothers and sisters and their families.
The tradition in Mexico is very similar to the other countries in North, Central and South America. It is a time to spend with the family, get together, have dinner, fun, talk, play, sing and gifts.
The origin of this celebration is related on religion but it has morphed into a more commercial thing that is good for business and I guess for everyone else too.
The word Christmas comes from the word Christ as the main reason for the celebration of this holiday relates to the birth of Jesus Christ on December 25. I guess the important or interesting thing to know is how we celebrate this holiday season.
In Mexico the celebration starts December 12 and ends January 6 of every year. The dates do not change in any year. It starts on December 12 because it is another important religious holiday that is related to the birth of Virgin Mary the mother of Jesus Christ. Mexico is an extremely religious country where more than 90% of the people is catholic and that is the main reason why this dates are particulary important and heavily celebrated.
From December 12 is the official start of the holiday season, from this date up to December 23 people have whet is known in Mexico as “Posadas”.
What do people do in posadas? Well they are only an excuse to get together with friends most of the time at homes of different people, sometimes at restaurants where you eat, drink, sing, talk. Usually they start at 7 or 8 pm but they can end late like at 2 or 3 am. The posadas that are more family oriented have more kids and games are played or they break “Pinatas” that are full of candies and small gifts.
The bigger party or holiday celebration is December 24th when you get together with all your family and when I say all your family is not only your direct family but anyone related to you like parents, brothers, sisters, nephews, nieces, grand parents when you have them, brothers or sisters in law. Sometimes this family holiday reunions can have up to 30-40 people. We gather usually at the house of the parents or whoever has the biggest home and willing to be the host. The religious birth of Jesus is the reason, people go to church on that day but at night it is all fun and celebration. A big dinner is served whare Turkey is usually the main dish but all sorts of other foods are served. Drinks, music, singing, dancing, talking are always present. One of the important things that people do is exchange gifts or presents between family members. That is the reason you see so many gifts under the Christmas tree. The tradition also is to decorate the homes inside and outside according to the season.
The parties could last until very late at night. The next day on the 25th still people get together during the day but on a more relaxed way. But in the morning when the kids wake up they find the gifts under the tree that Santa Clauss brings to them.
The next big day is celebrated is the last day of the year and ends with January 6th celebration that closes the holiday season.
In genereal it is a happy time where the most important day of all is December 24. People usually do not work from December 23rd up to January 2nd. The season is in some way similar to CNY time where people travel to get close to their loved ones and celebrate with them getting together, eating, talking and having fun.
Mexico and China are very similar in so many things as we culturally and traditionaly are societies that pay extremely high attention to family.
I am personally the most happy because it is a time that I am close to my parents, my wife and kids and celebrate the season along my brothers and sisters and their families. We also do it with my wife’s side of the family. It is almost the only time of the year when you get the chance to see and talk to most of them.
When you have a big family it is particularly special. I have been very fortunate to have a big family not only from my side but also from my wife’s side. Sometimes these reunions can get very big and interesting. The only problem is that you have to buy so many gifts and could get quite expensive!
Humberto Valles
ICC General Manager
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