The Gift of Sharing: Christmas, a Special Time in Lake Chapala Mexico

By Marie Dwyer-Bullock
www.focusonmexico.com

It was our second Christmas in Mexico and we wanted to participate again in one of the traditional posadas. (We have now lived here for ten years and have never missed a year, always participating in a couple of posadas.) The first posada starts on December 16th and continues for nine days, with the last one being Christmas Eve (symbolizing Mary’s nine months of pregnancy). These fiestas are recreations of the pilgrimage to Bethlehem made so long ago by Joseph and Mary.

We like to start with the one in San Antonio. The posada begins at dusk, with the procession starting at the top of a street and winding through the village and ending up at the church. In front will be a young girl riding a donkey, representing Mary. Walking alongside will be a young boy, representing Joseph. The village priest will be there with a bullhorn leading the ceremony and all the people in the village file along with the procession, starting with a small group and then growing as the procession makes its way along. All the people carry candles and sing the traditional songs asking for posada (a place to sleep for the night). Along the way there will be seven stops where there will be live nativity scenes. At each of the first six, half the crowd outside will stop and sing a song asking for posada, and people inside will respond there is no room. The seventh stop when they sing to ask for posada they are accepted and everyone goes into the church (or other locations), and enjoy traditional food prepared in advance. The children get bags of candy and then they break piñatas.

It was at this point that Ray and I were standing watching the children break the piñatas and then everyone (including the adults) rush in to catch the falling fruit and candy. We didn’t want to take any; we just stopped by and enjoyed watching. Then when it was over, the little kids sat on the sidewalk and started eating their bounty. We decided to leave and returned to the car. A tiny little boy followed us and knocked on Ray’s window. Ray immediately got a couple of pesos out of a little container we keep in the car for that purpose, thinking that was what the little guy was wanting. Instead, to our surprise, he reached up and handed us two oranges and told Ray in Spanish that he wanted to share because he saw we didn’t get anything. The last thing we wanted to do was take his fruit, but we knew he would be hurt and we would have denied him the gift of sharing (which is so typically Mexican), so we gratefully accepted. We have experienced so many wonderful moments like this since moving to Mexico, we started to call them ‘precious moments,’ which we store in our memories and in our hearts. Living in Mexico has given us a new lease on life and after eleven years we still experience the wonder of the Mexican people and the warmth they so generously offer us.

If you are interested in living in Mexico, I wholeheartedly recommend the Focus on Mexico 8-day Educational program. We have expert speakers who come and teach about real estate, health care, insurance, cost of living comparisons, US Taxes, banking and immigration law and more. We also manage to pack a lot of fun into the equation! Many people feel like they’ve been on vacation after they leave here, even though we give you a lot of information. By the end of the program you’ll have all the information necessary to decide if Mexico is for you or not. www.FocusOnMexico.com

The Real Spirit of Christmas in Lake Chapala, Mexico

by Marie Dwyer-Bullock

www.focusonmexico.com

Some years ago we offered one of our Focus On Mexico 8-Day Educational Programs over the Christmas season so that people who were coming could experience Christmas the way the Mexican people celebrate it. In communications sent after people booked on that program, I mentioned that if anyone wanted to (no obligation), they could bring with them school supplies (pencils, paper, erasers, little books, shoes, sweaters, etc), and Ray and I would arrange to take the items to the orphanage on Christmas Day. Well, one couple who came on the Christmas program was quite young, and they had two children with them. The kids had made up twenty packages with crayons, coloring books, eraser and pencil sharpener, a little toy and some candy. The parents, Frank and Mary, asked if they could come with us on Christmas Day. We were thrilled. Of course, we said, "Yes!" So early on Christmas morning we headed off for the orphanage (located just west of Ajijic in San Juan Cosala).

Before I go on, I should give you a little background. The orphanage is run (and was started by) one priest and a few volunteers. They have a little school right at the orphanage with volunteer teachers. The doors to the orphanage are never closed, and the children could leave if they wanted to, but they do not. They each have their duties to perform and although the Padre is quite strict, he is very caring and makes time to spend with each child. And, in fact, some of these kids go on to become professionals. On February 5th there is always a party hosted entirely by the people from the village of San Juan Cosala, and many of the children that have grown up and left the orphanage come back to offer their respects on this special day. The Padre is also quite strict when it comes to people who want to come and ‘help’ and want to do or offer things that are more to make themselves feel good then to give anonymously for the benefit of the children.

Now - back to the story. Upon arrival at the orphanage (we had a few other people with us also, and we had brought food and blankets, etc.), the Padre first instructed the children from the orphanage to take our offerings and put them away in the kitchen area. I am always amazed that the children don’t try to sneak anything, not even a candy. Then the Padre graciously invited us to participate in their morning prayer. After some time, Frank and Mary asked me if I could get the Padre to bring back the packages the kids brought so they could give them to the kids at the orphanage themselves. The Padre explained that over the Christmas season many of the children went to stay with guardians and were not at the orphanage and so he waited until they all returned (and remember Three Kings Day is the actual day they are used to exchanging) before they distributed any gifts so each child would get something.

At first Mary was upset. She said the kids were very disappointed (I could see they were sulking). I asked her to ask her kids—was it more important for them to give the gifts or was it more important for the kids at the orphanage to have the gifts. In other words, who were they doing it for? The kids thought about this and you could see them coming around. They had just learned a valuable lesson. Frank had also brought a Polaroid camera (and several packages of film) with him as he had read somewhere that the kids in orphanages seldom have mirrors and many have never seen or had a picture of themself. Well, was he right! At first the children were shy, but when they saw the resulting picture and realized it was them, you couldn’t imagine the smiles on their faces— so much open joy, it was almost painful to watch. They had such a wonderful time. Then they wanted a picture of them with a friend, another with another friend, another with one of us. No doubt they would remember that day for years to come and they would treasure those pictures they got to keep. Now, that is the joy and spirit of Christmas.

If you are interested in living in Mexico, I wholeheartedly recommend the Focus on Mexico 8-day Educational program. We have expert speakers who come and teach about real estate, health care, insurance, cost of living comparisons, US Taxes, banking and immigration law and more. We also manage to pack a lot of fun into the equation! Many people feel like they’ve been on vacation after they leave here, even though we give you a lot of information. By the end of the program you’ll have all the information necessary to decide if Mexico is for you or not. www.FocusOnMexico.com