How to Decorate a Mexican Home for Christmas

The nativity scene (El Nacimiento in Spanish) is the most important part of the Christmas decorations displayed in most Mexican homes.

Tips:

Most people in Mexico use artificial Christmas trees. On Christmas Eve, place Baby Jesus in the crib to complete the nativity scene.

Steps:

1. Set up a nativity scene in your living room or another prominent place in the front of your home. 2. Arrange the scene on a tabletop covered with paper painted in earth tones (papel roca). 3. Use boxes to create a landscape with hills and mountains. 4. Select clay or plaster figurines to represent the Holy Family. 5. Add an angel, along with the animals, shepherds and their flocks. 6. Include a serpent and Lucifer to represent evil forces. 7. Scatter plastic toy houses to establish a village. 8. Use Spanish moss to hold all of the figures in place. 9. Decorate a small Christmas tree (arbolito), which can either be set up as part of the nativity scene or can be displayed in a separate room. 10. Display flor de Noche Buena (Christmas Eve Flower), known in English-speaking countries as poinsettia.