More Mexican Holiday traditions are still on the way!

Just when you thought the Holidays were winding down and you could get yourself away from the table.

Well if you live in Mexico you couldn't be more wrong! And if you live here in Merida you would be even more wrong!

Not only do we have the New Year, and New Years eve coming up, we are also gearing up for Merida's 470th birthday (6 January)! Which is also within the 'festival de la ciudad' festivities.

Also on 6 January is Dia de los Reyes Magos, or 3 Kings Day. This is also known as Epiphany and signifies the conclusion of the 12 days of Christmas. (but not the end of the party'ing).
This is the more traditional day of gift giving .


On the evening of the 5th of January families gather in the early evening to share the Rosca tradition; rosca y chocolate. Rosca de Reyes is a sweet egg bread shaped in a ring or crown sometimes studded with dried fruits. Inside the Rosca is baked a small baby doll figure (representing the baby Jesus), the lucky recipient of the doll gets to host the Candelaria party on 2 February.

Candelaria signifies the day Jesus was presented at the Jewish Temple 40 days after his birth.

Tamales are the traditional food served for the Candelaria party. And this will officially signify the end of the Holiday Season. phew!

Well, don't forget 2 February is Groundhog Day!

Cinco de Mayo

A friend, a Mexican friend offered to me this explanation as to why Americans celebrate Cinco de Mayo with much more gusto than Mexicans;

5 de Mayo is just a minor battle against the French when they were trying to get our territory, and Mexican army won it; so for Mexicans is not a very important battle. Corona Beer maybe even 20 years ago, started making a campaign to sell more beer in the US, and as a marketing tool they advertised it as Cinco de Mayo let's have a Mexican party with beer. Since Cinco de Mayo is an easy language sentence for the least Spanish inclined person, they made it, and everybody in The States thought that it was a big Mexican Hollyday. So, year after year is getting bigger there, and in Mexico the majority of Mexicans ignore what goes on in USA.

And then friend, and fellow blogger Paul, an American offered this story on his blog;


Back in 1912, Hellmann's mayonnaise was manufactured in England. In fact, the Titanic was carrying 12,000 jars of the condiment scheduled for delivery to Veracruz, Mexico, which was to be the next port of call for the great ship after its stop in New York.

This would have been the largest, single shipment of mayonnaise ever delivered to Mexico. But as we know, the great ship did not make it to New York . The ship hit an iceberg and sank, and the cargo was forever lost.

The people of Mexico, who were crazy about mayonnaise, and were eagerly awaiting its delivery, were disconsolate at the loss. Their anguish was so great that they began an annual commiseration of their misfortune which they observe to this day.

This National Day of Mourning occurs annually on May 5th and is known as:
Sinko De Mayo.


I like them both!