(Facing
Page)
Metropolitan
Cathedral and
Christmas tree
decorations
in Zocalo,
Mexico City.
Tacos, Tamales,
Tequila, anyone?
Mexico City, Mexico
It is in mid-November each year, when the
Christmas festivities are kick-started in
bustling, colourful Mexico City. This takes
place with the lighting of the Christmas tree
in the Liverpool Insurgentes mega store
on the third Saturday in November. It is the
most visited store during Yuletide season
by Mexican families, for its Christmas
village is one of the most spectacular and
entertaining hot spots of the city. Besides
the impressive Christmas tree, it features
an ice slide and activities for children to
write their letters to the Three Wise Men.
From then on, families begin to prepare
for the holidays where plenty of food, fun
and colour define the fiesta. Think copious
amounts of traditional Christmas delicacies
like a large fritter known as a buñuelo,
ponche navideño (a Christmas fruit punch)
along with the usual Mexican cuisine staples
of tacos and tamales stuffed with turkey—all
washed down with some tequila. Christmas
markets like the one organised in the
Coyoacan Market or the Grand Christmas
Bazaar in the Lázaro Cardenas Market are
also wonderful places to get the festive vibe
going. Another magical place in Mexico City
during Christmas is the Zocalo square in the
heart of the city where a giant ice rink is set
up for people to skate and make merry.
Christmas in
January
Lalibela, Ethiopia
Probably the most unique Christmas
celebrations, and not just on this list, but
in the world, Lalibela in Ethiopia does its
version of the festivities very, very differently.
For starters, Ethiopia celebrates Christmas
on January 7th, not December 25th! Called
Ganna, Christmas here is preceded by
a special Advent fast for 43 days before
Christmas. It starts on 25th November and
is known as the ‘Fast of the Prophets’ or
Tsome Nebiyat. During this time, traditionally
only one vegan meal is eaten each day.
On the day of Ganna, people get dressed
in white, wearing a traditional shawl-like
garment called a netela. It is a thin white
cotton piece of cloth with brightly coloured
stripes across the ends. People go to
mass on Christmas Eve (called the Gahad
All images: shutterstock.com
