What are some similarities between Christmas in Mexico and the United States?

Question

I am doing a project for spanish class i need some similarities!! thanks so much!

Answer 1

I think its very similair in the fact that Mexicans have Christmas trees, some put lights outside their houses. There is gift giving (Santa Claus which though new has caught on here).  The biggest difference to me is that Mexicans have Xmas dinner on Xmas eve night and not Xmas day.

Answer 2

Similarities are ... houses covered with colored lights and the stores have been full of Xmas toys and stuff since they took the Halloweeen things out

Answer 3

In Mexico is very different from the USA.

The similarities are that the family gets together (but we are happy about it, not like in the USA that sometimes it seems to be a drag, like something nobody wants to do, but in Mexico we LOVE family reunions).

We do give out gifts and believe in Santa Claus.

We have Christmas trees but we add the nativity representation to the decoration, in fact, if you don’t have a tree is not as important as not having the Nativity scene.

I guess that’s it.

Because we celebrate Christmas as the day Jesus Christ was born.

On the 24th., we go to mass before having dinner or in some parts of Mexico after dinner people go to midnight mass.

Our Christmas carols are more focused on the born of Jesus than in Santa Claus or sleigh rides or snow (I love those songs, don't get me wrong).

In the states that border the USA we usually eat turkey and mashed potatos… because this region is more influenced by the American culture, but we add some dishes that are traditional in other parts of Mexico, like tamales, romeritos with mole (its a typical dish made of romero grass and mole), bacalao (a fish dish originated in the Veracruz state and influenced by Spain cuisine)...

We also eat "buñuelos" wich is a dessert made only in this season, and "champurrado" which is a beverage made of chocolate, cinnamon and corn flour.

Also we have the Posadas, which is a beautiful tradition:

Nine days before the 24th. or "Noche Buena" as we call it, we begin a series of prayers before the nativity set, either at our own house, or at the neighborhood church.

After we pray, we start singing around the block or rooms of the house to remember and honor the struggle it was for Joseph and Mary to find a place to stay.

This chant ends with the recipient family opening the doors to let the Holy Family come in and have warm and secure place to stay so Jesus can be born.

Then the owner of the house gives out food and we brake a piñata (which symbolizes the tricks the devil uses to lure you into sin, when you brake the piñata you triumph over him and you receive all the good things in life represented by the candy and fruit).

It is very beautiful, joyful and a well preserved tradition that I personally love to do.

We do however, have the Santa Claus story and we do give out presents like in the USA.

Usually in Mexico it was accustomed to give presents on January 6th. the day the 3 wise man found Jesus.

So we also give out presents this days, just one or two for the kids. But we celebrate this day with the Rosca de Reyes (king's bread or bunt, its similar to the fruit cake but lighter). The Rosca de Reyes is filled with plastic babys that represent baby Jesus, if you are the one that finds him in your piece of bread you have to make a party on February 2nd., when you are suposed to take of the nativity.

So as you see, in Mexico we finish until february 2nd. All though this day is not celebrated anymore like it used to be, but usually somebody brings tamales to work or your house, but that's it.

Answer 4

I would say that the only simillarity is that in mexico we also put a christmas tree, even though we give more importance to the nativity, and we also exchange gifts; however, in mexico, what we celebrate is the birth of jesus christ, and we give a lot of imprtance to that. Therefore, we all go to catholic mass at night of Christmas eve with all the family, and after mass we go to together to the party. We have a party with the extended family and some friends in a house. Normally we eat turkey as a main dish.