While Christmas traditions vary across Latin American countries, they generally emphasize religious aspects like nativity scenes and the central figure of Baby Jesus rather than Santa Claus. Specific traditions include parades to commemorate the Virgin Mary in Colombia, leaving hay under the bed for the Three Kings' horses in Puerto Rico on January 6th, chanting Christmas carols focused on Baby Jesus in Brazil, and performing dances and plays in Peru. In Mexico, Las Posadas processions involve groups seeking shelter for the Holy Family, and in Colombia novenas pray for the nine days before Jesus' birth. Local cultures add their own flavors while generally keeping religious themes at the core of Christmas celebrations.

1. CHRISTMAS In the Americas

2. You won’t see the same way of observing the Christmas holiday in every country; i.e. It’s not the same to go to Venezuela, Colombia or Brazil and compare ways to commemorate the event with the way it is celebrated in the United States of America. Every country add a little aspect of their local culture to venerate Christmas. Even though globalized figures such as Santa Claus didn’t have much impact on Latin American cultures, it is observable that Santa made his incursion to other lands and other societies.

4. Christmas inVenezuela Essentially the same as Colombia; a religious holiday where Baby Jesus plays a more significant role than Santa Claus. The celebration starts unofficially on the second week of November with the festivity of the Virgin of Chiquinquira.

6. Three Kings day in P.R. The Feast of the Three Kings also known as the Epiphany takes place every year on January 6th. It is an intricate part of Puerto Rican folklore. Traditionally, this day is very important, especially for children, for it is on this eve that they will receive their gifts. Tradition states that on the Eve of the Epiphany children collect hay, straw or grass and place it in boxes or containers under their beds. This gesture is a gift of food for the Kings' Horses while they rest in between deliveries.

8. Christmas in Brazil Christmas has an influence from the Jesuit monks. But as a country open to modern influences, in northern cities the celebration of Christmas resembles most closely North American traditions rather than local ones. However, the local traditions are focused on the Kings' Feasts, where people chant Christmas Carols to Baby Jesus.

10. Christmas in Peru It’s as common to see Nativity Scenes in homes as in churches; dances and plays are common and traditional food is served during the festivities. During the weeks prior to Christmas, as a good will act, churches and individuals organize chocolatadas for people of lesser economical resources, and sometimes during the chocolatadas small presents are offered to the guests.

12. Christmas in Mexico Las Posadas is one of the most well known traditions in Mexico. In a group of people as holy pilgrims, they go from door to door in a procession, looking for a place that the Holy Family can stay.

14. Christmas in Columbia The season starts on first Sunday of December. It is known as El Dia de Las Velitas (trans. The Day of the Candles), which is a day where families, friends and neighbors reunite to commemorate according to the Catholic tradition the Sacred Birth of the Virgin Mary. In recent years the tradition has been declining due a lack of care from young people about the traditions. The nine days' prayers, or Novenas, are a tradition that commemorates the last 9 days before the birth of Jesus. Because it is a religious holiday, the central figure is not Santa Claus but Baby Jesus.

15. What traditions do you and your family do? Do you go caroling? Do you drink ponche? Do you go to mass at midnight on Christmas eve? Do you make pork, or chicken or fish for christmas? What makes your Christmas special?