Christmas in Mexico: Holiday Celebrations Around the World

Lesson Plans: Teaching Your Child About Other Cultures & Holidays Part 2

I love learning about different cultures and traditions and with living in Houston, Texas, I get to celebrate the Hispanic culture that is all around me and witness how other cultures may celebrate Christmas. It is so exciting to learn new things and to be able to share them with my children and have them exposed to the whole wide world of holidays. While teaching my children about Christmas and other December Holidays around the world I found out that the poinsettia flower and its traditional use during Christmas originated in a Mexican tradition. With these lesson plans you can teach your child about the Christmas holiday around the world and in the United States

Christmas in Mexico

Los Posados is a cherished tradition of Mexican culture. It is a celebration of the journey of Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem and their search for lodging and shelter. The celebration takes the form of a children's parade which takes place 12 days before Christmas. Traditionally there are two children at the beginning of the parade carrying small statues of Mary and Joseph. They are followed by other children in the parade, who are holding candles. They travel from house to house within their neighborhood asking for shelter, and the parade then ends at the local church. The parade is followed by the families of the area attending a church service and festive piñata party.

The Legend of the Poinsettia
The poinsettia was named over 100 years ago by Dr. Joel Poinsett, the first US Ambassador to Mexico. It is also called the "Flame Leaf," or "Flower of the Holy Night."