Cozumel News December 9th, 2015: Cozumel Taxis Requesting Rate Increase, Cozumel is Dressed for Christmas, The Cozumel Covering Families with Love Campaign, Christmas in Cozumel Mexico, Part One and Aurita´s Corner.
Cozumel Taxis Requesting Rate Increase
COZUMEL, 8 December. – Guild members of Taxi Union “Adolfo Lopez Mateos” expect a 20% increase in rates for their services before the end of 2015, said the secretary general of the Guild, Fernando Marrufo Martín.
The request was made last March to the Ministry of Communications and Transport (SCT), as the rates have remained at the same for the past three years; however it has not had a favorable response. Marrufo Martin indicated that the increase is justified because fuel has increased by 30 percent as have parts and other transportation related costs. The last increase was 20% in December of 2012.
Cozumel is Dressed for Christmas
Mayor, Fredy Marrufo Martin, accompanied by his wife, Mrs. Gina Ruiz de Marrufo, and their children Gerardo and Santiago, performed the traditional lighting of the Christmas tree and decorations at Quintana Roo Park and City Hall this past weekend.
The Cozumel Covering Families with Love Campaign
The Mayor and his wife are sponsoring a program called “Abrigando Familias con Amor” (Covering Families with Love) that is a drive to collect jackets, rain gear, sweaters, blankets, etc. to distribute to families in need this winter. It is a community effort, please take donations of winter clothing to DIF Cozumel, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Distribution of the clothing will begin around December 18th.
Christmas in Cozumel Mexico
It is time again to present you with Mexican traditions at Christmas time. Christmas is still Christmas in Mexico. It is a time to celebrate the birth of Jesus and the important things in life, family and friends. Although some influences of Santa have arrived due to tourism and residents from the other countries, the wonderful old fashion traditions still reign. We will start with the traditions during the Holiday Season, and then list all the good food that is traditionally served. You can go on-line and get the recipes or get more information on the celebrations.
When you hear a group of people singing as they walk down your street, they are participating in the Posada. The Posadas take place from the 16th to the 24th. It is a procession that reenacts Mary and Joseph’s search for shelter in Bethlehem. These processions lead to a different house every night for the culmination of the posada – a fiesta, which will usually include one or more piñatas. In the Caribbean Islands of Trinidad, St. Lucia’s, etc. They do a version of the Posada called Parange. (Not certain of the spelling). Each home visited is blessed by friends and family.
Christmas Eve is called Nochebuena in Spanish. This is the night of the last posada. Many people attend midnight mass and then have a dinner together with their families. Christmas Day is generally a quiet day. Gifts are not traditionally exchanged on Christmas, but this is changing, and Santa Claus is becoming increasingly more prominent in Mexican Christmas celebrations. In Cozumel, Ebenezer Church is having a Christmas Eve service in English at 6 p.m. The Catholic Churches have Christmas Eve and Christmas day Masses.
Although many Mexican families have Christmas trees, nativity scenes are a more common in homes, yards, and public places. The Nacimiento is usually set up on December 16th, the baby Jesus is added at night on December 24th and the three kings are added on January 5th.
Pastorelas are theatrical presentations of the shepherds (los pastores) on their way to see baby Jesus. These originated during Mexico’s colonial period and are now light-hearted comedic presentations. In the play the shepherds encounter various obstacles on their journey, with devils and angels making appearances.
Christmas carols are called villancicos in Spanish (pronounced vee-yan-see-kose). Some of these may be familiar translations of songs in English, such as Noche de Paz, the Spanish version of Silent Night, and some are completely different, such as Las Campanas de Belen (Bethlehem’s Bells) and Los Peces en el Río (the Fishes in the River).
The Celebration Continues:
After Christmas comes Año Nuevo (New Years. Most Mexicans celebrate New Year’s Eve by having a late-night dinner with their families. Those who want to party generally go out afterwards. The big day for children is January 6th, Día de Reyes (Kings Day). This is when children traditionally receive gifts, brought by the three wise men. Instead of cookies for Santa, children leave cookies and milk for the three Kings and hay, carrots, or other vegetable for the Camel, the elephant and the Horse they ride. Many children now receive gifts both on Christmas and on King’s Day.
On this day it is also customary to share a Rosca de Reyes among friends and family. This is sweet bread in the shape of a wreath with a miniature baby Jesus figure inside. Whoever finds the baby Jesus (often there are several in each Rosca) is supposed to host the party on February 2nd, traditionally serving tamales.
Candlemas, or Día de la Candelaria, on February 2nd, marks the end of the Christmas season. On this day people dress up their Niño Dios and take them to the church to be blessed, and everyone enjoys tamales provided by the person who got the baby Jesus in the Rosca on King’s Day the Mexican Holiday!
Aurita´s Corner
Please join any of the existing Cozumel charities and projects to help a Cozumel family or person in need this Christmas. This is something my family does year around, not just the holidays. It is rewarding, it is appreciated, and it is the right thing to do.
- I am putting two food and necessity baskets together; one for my Finca Family and One for a Local Family.
- I also need toys for an 11 year old girl, a six year old boy, a two year old boy and a newborn (Same two Families).
If anyone wants to help me with food, toy, or cash donations it would be greatly appreciated. Please do so as soon as possible as I will be out of town the 21st – 29th. I will be handing out my two baskets and leaving the toys for Santa before I leave.
Stop by Our Store and Support the Community!
Our New Store Neighborhood store Papelería & Novedades Mama Lilly is up and running. The word is getting out that our prices the lowest in town and the immediate neighborhood is thrilled to have a nearby store. We owe a fortune in merchandise and are purchasing additional supplies weekly as we discover the needs of the community.
I addition to school, Office, and art supplies we do copies, lamination and binding. We have gifts, gift bags and wrapping paper. We also have decorations, clothing, handbags, wallets, reading glasses, games, picture frames, and lots more. Spend your money where it will help a local family, shop with us!
Thinking of their future, I set up the store for my adopted son Bartolo and his family so that they can eventually be self sufficient. The store is locally owned and ran! Please stop by and give us a try!
Papelería & Novedades Mama Lilly
Christmas Sale! Come Shop with Us!
35 Avenida Entre Calles 17 y 15 Bis
Colonia Independencia
Email: Mapapeleria@outlook.com www.facebook.com/papeleriamamalilly/notifications/
987-120-5903 – 987-118-4453 U.S. – From U.S. 386-445-8702
