The Christmas Season in Mexico

Whereas Christmas is somewhat of a serious, sombre religious affair, the day falls right in the middle of a highly developed religious circuit of fiestas that occurs in the villages along the north shore of the lake. These start in the village of Ajijic in November and end in Jocotepec in mid-January. In sharp contrast to Christmas, these festivities involve very gay, noisy, exuberant public processions in which the patron saint of the village is paraded through the village and returned to the church. Different occupational groups within the village proudly sponsor their day in the festivities, each one trying to raise their status by showing a greater financial contribution than the other groups. This competitive aspect means the noise, rockets, fireworks, music and dancing go on relentlessly for the duration of that fiesta. At that point the fiesta in the next village begins on a similar schedule. Between November and January, the dogs and their masters sleep very little on the north shore of lake Chapala.

Christmas in Jocotepec is a pretty simple family affair, compared to the madness north of the border or the festiveness of the local fiestas. The family will gather together and have a simple meal and then attend Christmas Mass at the town church below. On Christmas Day, the town is very quiet as the families will celebrate the day quietly behind their family walls.

There are not a lot of what we would consider Christmas decorations around town. The town's decorations focus on the creche set up in the communal living room of the town: the town plaza.

Please notice the large rock in the foreground of the creche. It is claimed by the town to be a meteorite that fell in the hills adjacent to the town many years ago. It was brought down as a monument for the town, and has held a place of honor in the plaza ever since. It is also in the photo below on the right side. It has been deliberately included inside the creche.

Above is the Bandstand in the center of the plaza. Later in the evening there will probably be music  and there will be lots of stalls selling food and sweets for the family's. Below is a stand selling all kinds of sweet treats for the kids.

The town of Jocotepec is quite proud of their history. Below is a large stone plaque celebrating their four hundred and fiftieth anniversary, from 1529 to 1979.

Even before Christmas festivities start to fade in the town of Jocotepec, preliminary preparations around the town for the patron saint "Senor del Monte" can be observed...

Merry Christmas from Barbara and Rick in Mexico.