A hot chocolate drink made from the rich cacao bean and served to guests on cold winter evenings.
El chocolate caliente
100
Christmas Eve.
La nochebuena.
100
A festive street procession or parade in Oaxaca, Mexico, which honors the patroness of the state, the virgin of solitude, on December 18th.
La calenda.
100
The fruits that everyone eats on New Year (in Spanish!)
Las uvas
100
A sweet and puffy round bread that is covered with little fruits. This is cut and served on January 6 to celebrate the day the three kings arrived at Jesus' place of birth.
La rosca de reyes
200
A hot beverage made from fruits including prunes, oranges, raisins, and guavas. Typically served during las posadas.
El ponche
200
A symbolic procession acted out by participants to portray Mary and Joseph's journey to Bethlehem. The procession goes from house to house, asking for a place to stay and singing songs. This tradition is repeated several times between December 17 and December 24.
La posada
200
A special Christmas tip or bonus.
El aguinaldo
200
New Year
El año nuevo
200
Three Kings Day
El día de los reyes (magos)
300
Fried dough balls, or doughnut, covered in sugar and cinnamon.
Los buñuelos
300
Symbolic statues of Mary and Joseph carried by participants during la posada. The word means "pilgrims".
Los peregrinos
300
Originating in Mexico, this is traditionally in the shape of a 7-point star, with each point representing a cardinal sin of man.
La piñata
300
How many fruits do people eat on New Year?
12 (doce)
300
Observed on December 28th, this day remembers the sad historical event when King Herod had all baby boys killed. Mexicans celebrate this day by playing practical jokes on one another.
El día de los santos inocentes
400
What is an ancient Indian gruel made of masa and raw sugar mixed with vanilla and nuts?
el atole
400
Theatrical representations of the shepherds on their journey to honor the newborn baby Jesus.
La pastorela
400
Commonly known as the poinsettia, this flower is native to Mexico and dates back to the Aztecs who named it "withered flower" and used it to symbolize the blood of their sun sacrifices.
Flor de nochebuena
400
After eating the fruit on New Year, Mexicans also make 12 _______.
Wishes or promises
400
In the bread, what is the thing that people are waiting to find out if they got it in their slice?
A small plastic baby Jesus
500
A sweet or savory steamed dumpling that is cooked in a corn husk.
Los tamales
500
Midnight mass for Catholics, named "Mass of the Rooster" because a legend tells that the only time a rooster has crowed at midnight was when Jesus was born.
La misa del gallo
500
This is commonly known as the nativity scene. Family members and friends gather around Mexico to set up statues or small figurines to replicate the scene of Jesus' birth.
El nacimiento
500
In Mexico there is a tradition that on New Year people wear _____________.
New underwear
500
Whoever gets the baby in their slice of bread must host the party at their house on ________.