El Monumento a la Revolución, not far from Parque Alameda in Mexico City's Centro Histórico.
Mexico celebrates the Christmas season for nearly two months. South of the border, Christmas lasts from December 16 (the start of the nine-day pre-Christmas posadas), blossoms into December 25, journeys on to the the Día de los Reyes Magos (Day of the Three Kings) on January 6, and ends on February 2 (the Feast of La Candelaria) with a fiesta featuring tamales, atole, and a ceremony at home in which the beloved Niño Dios is sung to and carefully tucked away until next season.
When Mexico Cooks! was in the Distrito Federal (Mexico's capital city) just before Christmas, we wanted to visit the enormous fiesta
that takes place at the Monument to the Revolution. Games, booths,
food, children's rides, and the newest addition to Mexico's panoply of
saints–Santa Claus!–were paradise for children and parents. And of
course Mexico Cooks!, the biggest kid on the block, had a blast.
Blancanieves (Snow White) and the Seven Dwarfs flank Santa himself in one of the many photographers' booths at the fiestas.
A Ferris wheel! A carousel! Lights! Action! The fiestas are especially fun in the evening when the crowds are out. It's every child's idea of glory.
The many photographers' booths feature every cartoon character you know, all celebrating along with Santa and beckoning you to have your picture taken. After all, it's Christmas!
A twinkly tiara and a pink butterfly painted on her face made this little beauty a princess for the night.
This Christmas Eve scene features only Santa and his reindeer. Santa Claus has proliferated all over Mexico, although on Christmas, many children receive just one gift from el Niño Dios. If children receive other gifts, those come on January 6, from los Reyes Magos.
Globos de Santa Claus (Santa's head balloons) were a little startling as they drifted toward us, disembodied and surrealistic in the darkness. There really is a vendor holding the pole. Really.
Pink reindeer, Winnie the Pooh, and Jiminy Cricket team up with Santa. After December 25 and until January 6, los Reyes Magos take Santa Claus's place in all the photo booths.
Which diadema (tiara) will it be: pink and white rabbit ears, hearts, kitten ears, or pure sequin sparkle? This booth also sold pestañas y bigotes–glamourous fake eyelashes framed in glitter and big black mustaches, for less than ten pesos each!
This Santa got up from his rocker and asked if Mexico Cooks! had been good this year. Ahem. Mexico Cooks! is always good.
With a longing backward glance at the thrilling lights and spinning rides of the Fiestas Navideñas, we reluctantly headed home to rest.
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