Christmas Tradition

Our Christmas celebration starts on the evening of the 24th, we have a Christmas Eve dinner party that lasts until the wee hours of the 25th. Our dinner consists of eating mole,tamales,turkey,relleno(ground beef stuffing),Christmas salad,ponche(mexican wazzle with tejocotes, guavas, oranges, prunes, sugar cane,cinnamon and walnuts),atole(an ancient beverage that brings together two Mesoamarican natives, corn and chocolate in a delicious and satisfying hot drink additional flavors available like strawberry, vanilla, and coconut),buñuelos (crispy fried rosette cookies coated with cinnamon-sugar),rompope(eggnog),nueces garapiñadas(candied nuts one of our favorite treats, and may be made with walnuts, pecans, almonds or peanuts) and bizcochitos. Our family tradition is a little bit "Americanized" not at all the typical Mexican tradition, for instance there are no presents for the children on Christmas. The presents’ giveaway is featured six days after the New Year’s Day, on the “Dia de los Santos Reyes Magos”. In the case of Mexican Christmas, this preparation takes place during the nine days preceding Christmas’ Eve, or “Noche Buena” (December 24th). This period of nine days is called The “Novena”, and is perhaps the most symbolic of all Mexican Christmas Traditions. I remember as a little girl taking part of the posadas and dressing up as pastores and singing villancicos navideños. We try to keep our traditions alive however sometimes it can be difficult. I have implemented a new tradition with my family as my children grow, I want them to remember how we celebrated Christmas and what a better way to remember baby Jesus's birth than with an awesome brunch with chilaquiles, eggs, and french toast, I will post some recipes I hope you will try.