Newsletter Mexico Press

DECEMBER 2009

DEC 1- DEC 31: Campeche Historical Center's International Festival has been held since 1997 with the purpose of promoting the Historic Center of the city of Campeche. It includes concerts of classical, contemporary and popular music, theater, dance, book presentations, the recovery of December traditions, a state children's congress and the Jose Vasconcelos and Justo Sierra Mendez's Latin American essay prizes. The festival is brought to a finale with a popular Christmas concert in the atrium of Campeche's cathedral. http://campeche.travel/en/culture/tourist-attractions/

DEC 3-JAN 3: The Christmas Festival in Mexico City fills the main squares, streets and cultural venues of the city with jubilant crowds, who enjoy a week of live music leading up to Christmas Eve. Attractions include an ice rink in the Zocalo with ballets, musical concerts and festive pastorela nativity scenes on the ice.

DEC 8- DEC 10: The 8th Ethnic Dance Festival takes place in Aquismon, San Luis Potosi. This originated in 1985 to support and spread knowledge of the cultural heritage of the ethnic groups of the region represented by their traditional dances. It brings together more than 100 indigenous communities for three days of celebrations. A craft fair and displays of traditional medicine are also included. http://visitasanluispotosi.com/

DEC 11- DEC 12: The feast of the Guadalupe takes place in Temixco, Monterrey. This is one of the most important dates in the Mexican calendar. This religious festival is celebrated across the town, mainly in the city, for two days. It is celebrated with early mornings, mass, ethnic foods, religious songs, music of wind and rodeos.

DEC 12: The Virgin of Guadalupe's celebration in Mexico City, remembers her appearances to Juan Diego Cuauhtlatoatzin on the hill of Tepeyac near Mexico City between December 9th, 1531 and December 12th, 1531. From the early morning of December 12th, the Virgin is celebrated with mariachis, readings and prayer.

DEC 12- DEC 20: The Reading Festival occurs in Mexico City. It is a festival performed outdoors in the Paseo de la Reforma. The festival offers a discount of over 90 editorial materials funds in virtually all subjects. It includes book presentations, puppet shows, poetry readings, musical performances and other activities related to reading.

JAN 1: New Year's Day (Año Nuevo)--Nationwide. Mexico rings in the New Year with celebrations featuring music, dance, food and fireworks. Streets are filled with revelers, and friends and families congregate for parties that often last till dawn. One tradition calls for eating twelve grapes, one with each stroke of the chiming bell at midnight, for luck during the next 12 months. http://www.sanmigueljazz.com

JAN 6: Three Kings' Day (Dia de los Santos Reyes)--Nationwide. The Feast of the Epiphany recalls the arrival in Bethlehem of the three wise men (reyes magos) bearing gifts for baby Jesus. This is the day of traditional gift-giving for children in the central and southern regions of Mexico. Rosca de Reyes, a crown-shaped sweet bread decorated with candied fruits with a small doll baked inside, is served on this day. Whoever is lucky enough to find the figure in his slice of bread must host a party on February 2, Candlemas Day, offering tamales (stuffed cornflour cakes wrapped in corn husks or banana leaves) and atole (a hot, sweet drink thickened with corn flour) to the guests.