On #5: If you're asking whether quinceaneras happen in the US, the answer is, definitely. I live in the Denver, Colorado area, and people in this area have them. There are shops in my area that carry dresses and other paraphernalia for them. And I've been to a convention where the other thing happening at the hotel that weekend was a quinceanera. It may be a regional thing, but it's a data point for you, at least.
Thank you. :) I studied things like this a long time ago, but it was for a class and mostly focused on celebrations happening within Mexico, not how/if they were done in other places as well, so it always pays to make sure.
San Diego resident chiming in with Christmas food: Tamales. ALL THE TAMALES. Making tamales, giving out tamales, eating all the yummy tamales. Also seconding that qincaneras are common here. so it wouldn't be beyond the pale at all. There are entire shops, particularly in closer-to-the-border communities, that specialized in qincanera dresses. They often happen at people's houses (sometimse at outdoor parks since the weather here is almost always lovely) and they hire a Mariachi band to play.
Thank you. :) I had a few follow-up questions: Do the tamales have anything specific in them? I recall reading that some foods might have Christmas-only ingredients, and I was looking into specific types of drinks as well. I've never been to a quinceañera either, so I'm not sure what types of things a family might do for them outside of hiring a band, like what types of food they may have and other celebratory things.
There isn't really a specific Christmas tamale, and the most common tamale fillings are shredded chicken, pork, beef, or whole mild chiles filled with cheese. Christmas tamales sometimes feature a sauce (green or red), but they don't have to. There's a lovely article about them hereThere isn't really a specific traditional Christmas drink like wassail or anything, though at a Christmas party drinks like beer (Modelo, Tecate, Pacifica, Corona, Dos Eqis) and soda would be served (see below notes on aguas frescas, too). But tamales are basically like Christmas cookies--enjoyed by all, and often given as gifts
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That's very helpful, thank you! Now I'm a bit stuck on names the family might have. So far in my head, MC's name is Maria since it's shared by enough cultures to be a common name, but as for her father (born in the '60s), grandmother (probably born in the 40s) and aunts (same time range as her dad), I'm drawing a blank. I wasn't sure what to do there?
2) One thing to keep in mind is that what region everybody is from would change whether wheat flour or corn flour was used for some things. Northern Mexico would have white, wheat-based tortillas. The middle of Mexico (farther south like Mexico City) is corn tortillas. (I haven't spent any time in the southernmost parts of Mexico. So I don't know if they are also corn based.)
3) "abuelita" is an affectionate term for grandmother.
Thanks! I was also curious about drinks people may have for certain holidays and what's in them, as well as the most common filings/sauces for the tamales? I also need to name the rest of MC's family, at least in my head, so any help there or links to places that would be a good start would also help a lot. Thanks again!
I'm not sure about Mexican-American, but I'm mexican so maybe I can help you with some..
1. As how is custom to celebrate Christmas and New Year in Mexico, I can tell you =D.. - Christmas: The family gathers to have dinner, what we normally eat is Turkey slices with gravy on top (this I think is similar to US thanksgiving), relleno navideño, jamon de pierna con piña, romeritos con mole, TAMALES, ensalada de manzana.. sometimes Pozole or Menudo. ... All of the previous that are in spanish you can google them and it'll show you pictures)... BUT before eating in Chrismas Eve, some catholic families do a Rosary Pray, and lay down baby Jesus in a little altar for him to sleep because Joseph, Mary and Jesus have finally found a shelter to sleep in. Also, we sing a song to ask for shelter.. you can find it in Youtube if you type Pedir Posada (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1I0EQYcCU0o). And AAALSO, for kids (mostly this days) the tradition is to bring a Piñata with
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Bear in mind that Mexican Americans are Americans first, and while they may have family tradions held over from 'the old country ' they may be doing the exact things their neighbors whose grandparents came from other places are.
Case in point I had one set of born in Mexico grandparents. I had a Sweet 16 party. We did tamales occasionally, but mostly it was egg nog and Christmas cookies.
As for names, as a kid of the sixties Irish Catholic names were used alot, even if our family was neither. It was a laugh marrying into an Irish Catholic family and matching names one for one with our siblings.
As for the older generation aka the first generation American born , one sibling named for his dad, most of the rest of the names were the sort you'd find on any census records.
My abuela's nickname was Chita, which was short for mamacita, which was unpronouncible evidently by some of the younger kids and stuck.
Thank you. I wasn't sure if it was okay/the norm for most people to mix 'old world' traditions and new, but if it's plausible her family may do both. I was going to write a draft incorporating some of this information soon, is it all right to PM the link to you once the draft has been done so that it may be fact-checked?
I think I had a pretty standard So Cal upbringing. Wonder Bread and tortillas were equally present at our table. Ybarra chocolate and Nesquick. Of course everyone's mileage will vary depending on how quickly their family assimilated into the mainstream.
That makes sense, thank you. I really do appreciate the assistance. The draft should be about a week/two weeks or so in coming, and I'll PM with a link when it's ready to be looked over. Thanks again!
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3) "abuelita" is an affectionate term for grandmother.
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1. As how is custom to celebrate Christmas and New Year in Mexico, I can tell you =D..
- Christmas: The family gathers to have dinner, what we normally eat is Turkey slices with gravy on top (this I think is similar to US thanksgiving), relleno navideño, jamon de pierna con piña, romeritos con mole, TAMALES, ensalada de manzana.. sometimes Pozole or Menudo. ... All of the previous that are in spanish you can google them and it'll show you pictures)... BUT before eating in Chrismas Eve, some catholic families do a Rosary Pray, and lay down baby Jesus in a little altar for him to sleep because Joseph, Mary and Jesus have finally found a shelter to sleep in. Also, we sing a song to ask for shelter.. you can find it in Youtube if you type Pedir Posada (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1I0EQYcCU0o). And AAALSO, for kids (mostly this days) the tradition is to bring a Piñata with ( ... )
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Please feel free to ask :D
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Case in point I had one set of born in Mexico grandparents. I had a Sweet 16 party. We did tamales occasionally, but mostly it was egg nog and Christmas cookies.
As for names, as a kid of the sixties Irish Catholic names were used alot, even if our family was neither. It was a laugh marrying into an Irish Catholic family and matching names one for one with our siblings.
As for the older generation aka the first generation American born , one sibling named for his dad, most of the rest of the names were the sort you'd find on any census records.
My abuela's nickname was Chita, which was short for mamacita, which was unpronouncible evidently by some of the younger kids and stuck.
Reply
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I think I had a pretty standard So Cal upbringing. Wonder Bread and tortillas were equally present at our table. Ybarra chocolate and Nesquick. Of course everyone's mileage will vary depending on how quickly their family assimilated into the mainstream.
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