Although you may be packing away your holiday spirits along with the Christmas ornaments, the season to be jolly in Mexico is still far from over. Festivities linked to the Nativity will keep on rolling for another four weeks, with Three Kings Day coming up January 6 and Candlemas trailing along on February 2.

Many of our friends and neighbors passed away in the past 12 months – some were known by almost everyone and others maintained quiet lifestyles. All of them were part of the pattern of life on Lake Chapala’s north shore.

The recent holiday benefit party for the Love in Action Children’s Center raised more than 225,000 pesos.

Three-hundred-and-fifty plates of hominy and meat stew (pozole) were served at the gigantic Christmas posada thrown by Los Niños de Chapala y Ajijic (NCA) on December 10.

Partiers will have lots of fun choices for their New Year’s revelry at Lakeside. Several local restaurants will be putting out their holiday best with fabulous food and fun. Be sure to reserve early because your neighbors like to have a good time, too.

Organizers of Ajijic’s light-hearted New Year’s Day parade are keen for expatriate residents to join in the fun and strengthen bonds of friendship for 2012.