Happy Groundhog Day!
It’s February 2nd again and we are half way through winter. Today is the day when groundhogs like Punxsutawney Phil and Wiarton Willie come out to tell us if there is going to be 6 more weeks of winter this year (looking at the weather news, my money is with a longer winter).
Staute commenorating Wiarton Wille, the famous pronosticator from Wiarton, Ontario, Canada
Here in Mexico, they celebrate El Día de la Candelaria (Candlemas) today, which in Catholic tradition is a day to bring candles to church to be blessed, and also a day for the feast of the purification, or the presentation of Christ at the Temple. Ancient Jewish law required that babies and their mothers wait 40 days after birth before going to the temple, since February 2nd falls 40 days after Christmas, it is the date Jesus would have first been presented at the temple.
In Mexico this celebration has fused with pre Columbian traditions and the meal typically served here in Mexico is Tamales and Atole, two native American foods dating back to before the conquest. As I mentioned yesterday, this day also marks the end of the holiday season for many Mexicans, and is the day when I will) finally take down my Christmas tree (and my New Years decorations from my Puerto Vallarta real estate website).
I’m interested in what you have to say! Please leave a comment!
Holidays in Puerto Vallarta
If you look at my website today, you’ll still see the Happy New Year banner at the top of each page. Someone asked me the other day why I still had that up. It’s not because I am too busy or lazy to take it down.
Here in Mexico, the Christmas holidays last all the way to the 2nd of February, when we have one final celebration called Dia de la Candelaria or Candlemas.
Rosca de Reyes - Photo Courtesy Tamorlan
This celebration actually starts on the 6th of January with El Dia de los Reyes Magos (3 kings day) for which there is a similar amount of myth and illusion as there is for Santa Claus at Christmas. In some areas of Mexico, the Reyes Magos are more celebrated than Christmas itself… gifts are exchanged, and children are warned to be good, or they may be overlooked by the Reyes Magos. The festivities on this day culminate in the cutting of the Rosca de Reyes. The Rosca de Reyes is a ring shaped sweet bread made with butter and topped with a sugar coating and candied fruits… even candied orange peels (which are better than they sound!). Baked inside the Rosca are several tiny statuettes made to represent the baby Jesus. When it is time, everyone will gather around and cut out a section of the bread, and those that are fortunate (or unfortunate!) enough to get one of the statuettes in their slice are tasked with hosting a party on the 2nd of February where tamales and atole are typically served. Atole is a traditional drink which is heavy like hot chocolate, and even tastes a little chocolaty, but is actually made from hops (one of the grains used to make beer… but there is no alcohol here!). It is sweetened and served hot and goes down perfectly with the tamales on a cool winter night… Even in Puerto Vallarta, where the winter nights are not necessarily so cool.
For many Mexicans, February 2nd marks the real end of the Holiday season and for that reason (and because my wife asked me to) I have left the holiday decorations up a little longer.
I am interested in what you have to say; please feel free to leave a comment!
Cruise Ships in Puerto Vallarta
As the season gets in to full swing, it was nice to see the cruise ships back in town. This morning driving by the Puerto Vallarta Maritime terminal there were 3 cruise ship docked there, the Saphire Princess, the Otterdam by Holland America, and the Disney Wonder… complete with Donald Duck hanging off the back. I shot a couple of pics as I drove by (not very good ones, sorry… I was also driving at the time):
The Disney Wonder and the Holland America Otterdam
The Disney Wonder in Puerto Vallarta
I missed getting Donald Duck in the shot, I’ll get him next time and post it here!
Merry Christmas!
Just a quick note as we prepare for Christmas Dinner… Best wishes to to you and yours and I hope you are enjoying the holidays with those who are most important in your life.
Merry Christmas!
Best wishes to you and yours this holiday season!
Thanksgiving in Puerto Vallarta
Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at Pacific Coast Puerto Vallarta Real Estate
It’s Thanksgiving again… and while Thanksgiving is not celebrated in Mexico, here in Puerto Vallarta (which is a long way from Stockbridge Massachusetts) there is a large community of American and Canadian Expatriates who do celebrate. Many will gather together to celebrate the holiday with traditional turkey dinners, often with a Mexican flair. Turkeys are found in some of the larger grocery stores here in the Puerto Vallarta area and other traditional Thanksgiving delicacies, such as cranberry dressing and pumpkin pie can be had, if you look for them.
Those not interested in cooking can find Thanksgiving dinner served at several hotels and local restaurants… my favorite is Ernesto’s Good Grub located just a block off of Av. Francisco Villa near the the gas station in Colonia Versailles. Reservations are a good idea… It’s not Alice in the Kitchen (it’s Ernesto’s wife, actually) but they still serve up a Thanksgiving dinner that can’t be beat!
Where ever you are enjoying your Thanksgiving this year, I hope you are happy and safe with your loved ones.
Happy Thanksgiving!
