‘Tis the season to be jolly, and there should be plenty of that going around at lakeside over the next couple of weeks. Pack away your cares and worries to get into the local spirit of Navidad and Año Nuevo.

As winter weather kicks in, such as it is in these semi-tropical parts, we can enjoy wrapping up in sweaters, jackets, serapes and warm scarves that are stored away for most of the year.

Ward off the December chill with doses of ponche navideño, a classic steaming fruit punch brewed in a pot of water with cut-up guavas, apples, pears, prunes, tejocotes (similar to crab apples), sugar cane, cinnamon sticks and crude piloncillo sugar. Add tamarind pulp or Jamaica flowers for extra tang, nut meats for a bit of crunch, and a shot of brandy, rum or aguardiente if you’re so inclined. Find a recipe on the Internet to fill your home with enticing aromas, or buy ready-made from an evening vendor at the Ajijic plaza.

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