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En algunos países nórdicos aún se celebra el 6 de diciembre como el Día de San Nicolás.   Se acostumbra que una persona  vestida con un traje de obispo medieval  visite los hogares premiando a los niños buenos con dulces y  llevándoles un costal de carbón a los que se portaron mal.

Tras la reforma protestante en el Siglo XVI se prohibieron los Santos pero la leyenda de San Nicolás continuó y marcó el inicio de la celebración navideña.  Cuando unos holandeses llegaron a los Estados Unidos llevando esta tradición, lo llamaban Sinterklaas nombre que se transformó en Santa Claus.

En el año de 1822 el Dr. Clemente Clarke Moore escribió el cuento “La Noche Antes de Navidad” dándole a Santa Claus una imagen ártica al mencionar trineo y renos.  Sin embargo fue Thomas Nast en 1863 quien al ilustrar el cuento de Moore nos mostró un Santa Claus más humano, lo vistió de rojo y le dió hogar en el Polo Norte.

Haddon Hubbard Sundblom (1899 – 1976) artista norteamericano agregó los rasgos finales de Santa Claus convirtiéndolo en una especie de abuelito bonachón al realizar las ilustraciones para los anuncios de la empresa Coca Cola mismos que perduran hasta la fecha.

En nuestros países hispanos muchos niños esperan que el 25 de diciembre el Niño Jesús les traiga sus regalitos o el 6 de enero sean los Reyes Magos quienes lo hagan, pero sin importar quien traiga los juguetes, todos conocen la figura del querido Santa Claus.

In some Northic countries they still celebrate December 6 as St. Nicholas Day.  It is usual for someone dressed in the robes of a medieval bishop to visit homes rewarding good children with candy and giving the naughty a sack of coal.

After the Protestant reform in the XVIth Century, saints were cancelled in the new protestant religion but the legend of Saint Nicholas persisted and marked the beginning of the Christmas Season.  When some Dutch immigrants arrived in the United States they brought with them this tradition and called him Sinterklaas which became Santa Claus.

In 1822 Dr. Clement Clarke Moore wrote “The Night Before Christmas” giving Santa Claus a new arctic image by mentioning sleigh and reindeer.  But, it was Thomas Nast who in 1863 illustrated Moore´s story and gave us a more human Santa Claus, dressed him in red and gave him a home in the North Pole.

Haddon Hubbard Sundblom (1899-1976) American artist added the final touches to Santa Claus by making him like a kind grandfather when he made the drawings for the Coca Cola Co. adds which are still seen to this day.

In our Hispanic countries many children expect the baby Jesus to bring to bring them their toys on December 25 while others get their presents from the 3 Wise Kings on January 6; but regardless of who brings the toys, they all know and love Santa Claus.

The tradition of decorating a tree for Christmas began 400 years ago and spread through Europe during the XIXth Century.  In 1825 an American newspaper mentioned the trees decorated by German immigrants during the Christmas Season.

In 1842 Charles Minnegero introduced this tradition in Williamsburg, Virginia.  His Christmas Tree was decorated with lit candles and wrapped with popcorn strings.  It was in 1923 when President Calvin Coolidge established the tradition of lighting a Christmas Tree in the lawn of the White House.

We have now discovered may ways to dress a Christmas Tree with toys, ribbons, cookies, candy canes and many, many more.  It´s fun to be creative as well as to see what others have done.

There is no nicer feeling during the Christmas Season than to go through the streets  seeing through the windows of homes and  stores, on gardens, lawns and public places the beautiful, colorful, traditional Christmas Trees. 

La Flor de Nochebuena es nativa de México, en específico, de la región de Taxco y Cuernavaca en el Estado de Morelos.

Los Aztecas la llamaban Cuetlaxochitl,  la consideraban con poderes curativos y sus pigmentos eran usados para teñir las fibras del algodón.

Los sacerdotes Franciscanos establecidos en el área de Taxco adornaban sus escenas cristianas con estas preciosas flores.

  Hernando Ruiz de Alarcón, residente de Taxco y hermano de Juan Ruiz de Alarcón el gran escritor español, escribió poéticamente acerca de esta flor dándola a conocer en el extranjero.  Sin embargo, su promotor más importante fue Joel Robert Poinsettia (1770-1851),  Embajador de los Estados Unidos en México después de la Guerra de Independencia mexicana y quien envió las plantas para adornar su residencia en Charlestonville, Carolina del Sur  y a su regreso, años más tarde, todos la cultivaban.

Poinsettia la convirtió en el símbolo de la Navidad Mexicana a través del mundo y en su honor le dieron su nombre a la Flor de Nochebuena conociéndose en Latín como Pulcherroma Poinsettia y en los Estados Unidos simplemente como Poinsettia.

El nombre que tiene en Náhuatl “Cuetlaxochitl” (Flor que se Marchita) es,  irónicamente, el  más apropiado ya que como todos los jardineros y floristan saben, NO SE PUEDE CORTAR.  Pero no deje que éso le impida tener varias plantas en su casa ya que se venden en maceta y no hay mejor y más barato adorno que la  Flor de Nochebuena.

This plant is a native of Mexico, in specific, of the region of Taxco and Cuernavaca in the State of Morelos.  It is known as the Flower of Christmas Eve.

The Aztecs call it Cuetlaxochitl and believed it had healing powers and its pigment was used to dye cotton fibers.

Franciscan priests who were established in Taxco decorated their Christian scenes with these lovely flowers.  Hernando Ruiz de Alarcon, resident of Taxco and brother of the famous writer Juan Ruiz de Alarcon, wrote poetically about this flower thus making it known abroad.  But, it was Joel Robert Poinsettia (1770-1851)who was its most important promoter.  Ambassador of the United States to Mexico after the Independence War, he sent these plants to decorate his home in Charlestonville, South Carolina and on his return years later he found everyone growing these plants.

Mr. Poinsettia made it a symbol of Mexican Christmas through the World and in his honor they gave his name to the flower known in Latin as Pulcherroma Poinsettia and in the United States simply as Poinsettia.

It´s name in Nahuatl, “Cuetlaxochitl” (flower that withers) is the most aprropriate as all gardeners and florists know, IT CANNOT BE CUT.  But, do not let this keep you from having several plants in your home as they are sold in pots and there is no cheaper or better Christmas decoration than the Poinsettia.

It was born from the belief that the souls of good people are allowed to return  one day every year, November 1st, the children, and November the 2nd, the adults, to visit their families.

So, for this reason, people make an altar inside their homes, decorated to attract and guide the souls of their dear departed.  It is covered with bright, colorful punched paper to give them a joyous welcome.  A photograph of the deceased head of the family is placed in the center surrounded by small pictures or just the names of the rest.  A cross is drawn with ashes and 4 votive candles around it: one for the children, one for the young, one for the adults and one for the souls who no one remembers.  Sugar skeletons, with the names of the living, are placed around the altar.  This is to make our crossover sweet and straight into the arms of our dear departed.

Also, on the altar, people place toys, candy, cigarettes, liquor and other items that they believe will make their loved ones happy.  On the 1st. of November, dishes with the favorite food, drinks and desserts are placed on the altar for the children, and on the next day, the same thing is repeated but for the adults, inviting them to feast with us.

In office buildings, museums and other public places, you can find altars dedicated to a special event.  These are to remember the victims of earthquakes, floodings, accidents and catastrophies.  For example:  for the 70 people who died in a subway accident 10 years ago, and to remember the victims of the massacre at Tlatelolco 40 years ago.

This is another example of how the ancient cultures mixed a part of their beliefs with the religion brought by the Spanish conquerors creating a ritual  that survives to this day.

Lets not forget that we have also learned  from the United States of America and our children practice  the Halloween  tradition  of ” treak or treat ” !!

We invite you to share with us any traditions you have in your country for these holidays !