MEXICO: Traditional Christmas pageant at El Carmen Museum in the country's capital of Mexico City

Mexicans kicked off the holiday season on Saturday (December 16) with a traditional Christmas pageant at El Carmen Museum in the country's capital of Mexico City. In its 18th consecutive year on stage, critics consider El Carmen's version of the play to be among the best of its kind in Mexico. Performances of the long-running pageant, known as "pastorelas", will be held nightly until January 1st -- and theatre-goers are invited to stay after the show for hot beverages and tamales in the halls and patios of the museum. A Christmas tradition in Mexico, "pastorelas" originated during the colonial period when Catholic missionaries tried to evangelise the indigenous communities by performing theatrical representations of the life of Jesus. Rosalina Ordonez, the executive producer of the pageant, said the most important aspect of today's performances is to get young people in touch with their own tradition. "It's to strengthen the family, so the kids and young people know the tradition because the children now want to go to the club or go to dance but they don't really know the tradition. They don't ask for things from the Virgin, from San Jose. What really matters to us is that they know the roots of the holiday tradition," Ordonez said. According to Swiss tourist Valentina Schultz, the pageant is a fun, positive way to keep old customs alive. "I think it's very good that they still have traditional parties. In Switzerland, we don't have many and I think they are very fun," Schutlz said after seeing the show on Monday (December 18). Since the beginning, the shows central themes have been nativity scenes and skits trying to promote devotion to Christ. Over time, the initial concept mixed with other Mexican practices, evolving into one of the most deeply-rooted traditions in the country. Music, food and beverages are now part of the performance that has become a typical holiday event for families in Mexico. The original "pastorelas" were normally performed in the convents and in some cases translated into the indigenous languages. El Carmen's setting in a 16th century convent lends an extra dose of authenticity to the performance, where visitors are greeted with a candle and hot drink and treated to a pre-show flute player interpreting popular Christmas songs. With 25 actors, singers and musicians on stage, the performance begins with a representation of a confrontation between angels and demons competing to sway shepherds towards or away from devotion to the baby Jesus. The struggle between good and evil is represented by comic situations based on a traditional Mexican rooster and bull-fighting. The three kings are represented with puppets and Pastorela ends with Jesus' nativity. After the performance, the members of the audience light their candles and walk across the convent, marking the beginning of what is known as the "posada". The "posada" represents Mary and Joseph's search for a place to give birth to Jesus. In Mexico, people emulate Mary and Joseph's search for shelter by walking and singing while holding figures of Mary and Joseph and asking for shelter in homes until someone opens their door for the pilgrims. Inside, the group enjoys a hot meal and begins a celebration that includes the breaking of a piñata. At El Carmen, visitors end their pilgrimage on the convent central patio eating hot tamales and drinking coffee. A raffle is held and someone takes home a piñata after each performance.

ITN Source | December 26, 2006

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