As in other Christian countries around the world, the celebration of Christmas in Mexico is an amalgamation of religious, family and social customs, enjoyed with greater gusto when accompanied by traditional foods.
The cena navideña (Christmas dinner) is a special repast customarily served on Christmas Eve following midnight mass.
Financial circumstances dictate an economical spread of tamales, pozole or roasted chicken for many Mexican families. However, for those who can afford it, the classic holiday menu is composed of a variety of dishes representative of the country’s unique mestizo cuisine.
An outstanding holiday recipe of Spanish origin is bacalao a la vizcaina, a toothsome stew of dried cod and potatoes flavored with olive oil, onions, garlic and green olives. Another standard is revoltijo, a spicy concoction made by combining wild greens known as romertitos and tortitas de camaron (dried shrimp fritters) in a rich mole sauce.Naturally pavo (turkey) – the feasting fowl of the Americas – is the most popular choice for the main course. The bird is usually prepared for Mexican tables with a rich stuffing based on ground meats and sausages rather than the familiar Anglo bread dressing.
Ensalada de nochebuena, a colorful salad platter featuring lettuce, beets, oranges, jicama and peanuts, helps refresh the palate. Favorite holiday treats for Mexican sweet tooths are buñuelos. These paper-thin wheat wafers are fried to a golden crisp and then bathed with sticky syrup or sprinkled with sugar.
A variety of domestic or imported wines may be served to accompany a multi-course cena, but the beverage of preference offered before the meal is ponche navideño (Christmas punch), a steaming brew made with native ingredients that usually includes guavas, tejocotes, bits of sugar cane, jamaica flowers, cinnamon sticks, prunes and pecans.
While savoring a holiday feast is not an end in itself, it is a symbol of joy and well-being brought on by commemoration of the Nativity that enriches a family gathering to share peace and good wishes.