MesoMag Volume 6
Volume 6 | December 19, 2024
Christmas in Latin America hits differently. Maybe it’s the heat—down here, we’re not decking halls with snow but soaking up the summer sun (unless you’re in Mexico, then bring a sweater). Or maybe it’s the fact that the big celebrations go down on the 24th, with families gathering late into the night for feasts, gifts, and midnight traditions. The 25th? That’s for leftovers and lounging.
Across the region, every country brings its own twist: tamaladas that turn cooking into a party, candlelit ceremonies that light up the streets, and even a festival dedicated to radishes (yes, really). Let’s dive into some of the traditions that make a Latin American Christmas feel like home.
Tamaladas
Holiday Traditions Wrapped in Masa
A tamalada is about family, community, and turning tamale prep into a celebration. If you’re invited to this boisterous family affair, you’ll find a kitchen buzzing with chatter, laughter, and the occasional debate over who’s doing it “right.” It’s a full-on production: soaking corn husks, spreading masa, perfecting the filling, and wrapping each tamale like a little edible gift.
Tamaladas are especially loved in Mexico, but you’ll find variations across Latin America, with tamales wrapped in banana leaves or corn husks and stuffed with everything from savory pork to sweet pineapple. Recipes are often family secrets, passed down like heirlooms. The result? A dish that’s as much about tradition as it is about taste.
Midnight Mass
And Other Sacred Traditions
In Latin America, Christmas isn’t just a celebration—it’s a ceremony. Midnight Mass, or La Misa del Gallo (“Rooster’s Mass”), is one of the most cherished traditions across Catholic countries. Families gather late on the 24th to mark the moment of Christ’s birth, a spiritual pause in the middle of the night’s festivities. It’s solemn but full of warmth: candlelight, choirs, and packed churches where even those who haven’t shown up all year find a spot in the pews.
Beyond the Mass, faith shapes much of the season. In Colombia, El Día de las Velitas kicks things off on December 7th, lighting streets and homes with candles in honor of the Virgin Mary. Mexico’s pastorelas mix devotion with humor, retelling the nativity story through playful, satirical plays. And everywhere, the 24th reigns supreme—Nochebuena is a night of prayer, feasting, and gratitude that stretches until the early hours.
Whether you’re in the crowd for La Misa del Gallo or just trying to dodge your abuela’s insistence on going, these traditions highlight the heart of a Latin American Christmas: connection, reverence, and celebrating into the night.
Panettone
A Favorite Holiday Sweet
It might have started in Italy, but panettone has found a second home in Latin America. This towering, fluffy bread—studded with dried fruit or chocolate—shows up on holiday tables from Brazil to Argentina, Peru to Venezuela. Brought over by Italian immigrants, panettone became a symbol of abundance and celebration, the perfect centerpiece for a festive feast.
In Brazil, you’ll find it everywhere during Natal (Portuguese for Christmas), stacked high in bakeries and supermarkets. Peru has its own twist, calling it panetón and pairing it with hot chocolate for a classic Christmas combo. And no matter where you are, it’s the ultimate munchie food—dangerously easy to tear into and hard to stop eating.
Pro tip: Don’t get too lit the night before the party and polish off the whole loaf. Panettone is meant to be shared (even if it doesn’t feel that way after the first bite).
MesoBites
🌱 Radish Festival in Oaxaca – On December 23rd, Oaxaca gets weird (and wonderful) with Noche de Rábanos, a festival where artists carve intricate scenes out of giant radishes. It’s a short-lived masterpiece—radishes wilt fast—but the creativity is unforgettable.
🎆 Año Viejo Effigies in Ecuador – Out with the old, literally. Ecuadorians say goodbye to the year by crafting life-sized effigies (called monigotes) of politicians, celebrities, or even themselves. At midnight on New Year’s Eve, the figures are burned in the streets to cleanse the past and make way for a fresh start.
🍇 12 Grapes for 12 Wishes – A Spanish tradition that thrives in Latin America, this New Year’s ritual has you eating 12 grapes at midnight—one for each stroke of the clock, and one wish for each month of the year. Mess it up, and your luck might too.
🔥 Burning the Devil in Guatemala – While officially celebrated earlier in December, the spirit of La Quema del Diablo carries over. Symbolizing cleansing and renewal, this tradition sees old junk (and bad vibes) set ablaze to start the new year light and free.
🌊 New Year by the Sea in Brazil – Brazil’s Réveillon is a mix of beach, spirituality, and celebration. People wear white, offer flowers to Iemanjá, the goddess of the sea, and light candles on the sand. It’s stunning, soulful, and uniquely Brazilian.
🎭 Dancing Devils of Venezuela – A tradition with roots in Afro-Venezuelan culture, the Diablos Danzantes blend elaborate costumes, dance, and faith to honor the triumph of good over evil. A spectacle worth seeing as the year winds down.
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