at

_ In Mexico, the. celebra- a
tion of the holiday season

20, CHRISTMAS EDITION, THE HERALD, Wed. Dec. 22, 1976

CHRISTMAS IN MEXICO I$ MADE FESTIVE WITH PINATA

begins in earnest nine days

before Christmas. During
this time the - posadas are

- observed.

Celebrants. form a pro-
cession behind figures rep-
resenting Mary and Joseph,

and goabout from house to
house; asking for posada or
‘lodging, Inside the homes,
other celebrants enact the
role of the innkeepers who
refused Mary -and Joseph

- lodging in Bethlehem. :

last admitted to one of

the homes, and the, fiesta

begins.

The highlight of this cel-
ebration is the smashing of
the pinata by youngsters.
A clay pot, filled with nuts

‘and candies and other trin-
kets, and imaginatively :
: decorated with paper-ma- ~

che, is, strung up on a

_ Tope; “each youngster is

After being’ ‘told. that
there is “no room at the
inn”, the celebrants are at —

blindfolded in turn and al-
lowed. to take a swing at .
the pinata with’ a stick. °
Since the- rope cam be
pulled each time a young-
ster swings ‘at it, many
blows are usually required,
with much shouting on the
part of onlookers, before
the pinata is finally broken
and goodies cascade upon
the delighted youngsters.

The tradition of the pina-
ta was actually brought to
Mexico during the 16th
century by Europeans. Al-

though ’ it is ‘no “longer a

__ tradition in Europe, the

custom of breaking a can-
dy-filled pot has flourished
in Mexico.

Christmas in Mexico is a
blend of both religious sig-
nificance and merry-mak-

-ing, much as it is in the
United. States. And of all

the Mexican. customs cur-
rently enjoyed south of the
border, none is merrier than
the breaking of the pinaia.

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"Stay warm 1 and happy this holiday enjoying family and close

friends.

We consider you our dear patrons and warm friends. We.

"hope that you have a wonderful holiday : season.

- 4620 Lakelse. Avenue:
_635- 2287

- a .

Christmas in
‘Times Gone By

‘Time was when Christ-
mas meant sitting before a
crackling fire, as the beauti-
ful story of the Nativity |
was read from .the family
bible: Perhaps corn would
be popped by the young-
sters, to’ be. strung with
cranberries and wound
around the Christmas tree.

Most likely the tree it-
self would have been chop-
ped down by Dad and the
youngsters, then brought
home, in a wheelbarrow or
sled with much excitement
and anticipation.

And of course, the chil--
dren’s Stockings: would be
“hung by the chimney with
care.”

The sound of sleigh bells
might have been heard out-
side, as carolers arrived in
a horse-drawn sleigh, with
shouts of “Merry Christ-
mas” and peals of Jaughter.
Then, as the family clus-

" tered about the living room
- window, the merry group

would offer favorite carols
like “Deck the. Halls” and
“Silent Night. ” All would
be invited in for a cup of
hot chocolate and some of
Mother’s home-baked cook-
ies. Then the carolers
would once again pile into
their sleigh and off they
would go, sleigh bells jing-
ling.

- Christmas morning was.
a magical time for young-.
sters, even ag it is now. Af-

ter gifts had been opened

and exclaimed over, the.
family would attend  ser-
vices at a. nearby church,
greeting friends and neigh-

bors in the spirit of the.
‘season.

Christmas dinner was a
highlight of ‘the day, with
the table piled high with.
festive fare, such as roast

turkey and mincemeat pie.

Perhaps after dinner, the |
youngsters would run down

to the frozen-over creek 4
or pond with their brand-

new ice skates, or go sled- .
ding down a ‘nearby hill.
‘They had no entertainment *.
then, as we know it, except .

their own high spirits and. -
‘But the...
new train, the new doll, © -
- whatever Santa left under- .
the tree, was cherished and | _

resourcefulness.

enjoyed as though it were a «
priceless. jewel. |

Christmas has changed i
in many ways: for most —

_ Americans — but basically so

speaking, it still is’ cele-

_- brated in much the same.
' fashion today — with fainily —
|.’ get-togethers, festive meals, —