Christmas collectibles for a touch of Mexican color
Mexican Christmas colors go far beyond gold, silver, red and green to turquoise, emerald and a hint of tropical color, whether it’s fuschia pink, purple or dark blue.
If you are staying with us this month, why not look for some folk art to add a touch of Mexico to future festive occasions back home?
Deck out your dining table with a colorful tablecloth and napkins or a table runner. You can find cotton table linens embroidered with colorful flowers that echo the designs of the dresses worn in the Yucatan and Oaxaca. For more vibrant colors, look for table mats and runners from the village of Zinacantan in the mountains of Chiapas. There are colorful handwoven tablecloths from Guadalajara and Puebla. Striking embroidered wall hangings and table runners depicting the nochebuena or poinsettia, a plant that Mexico gave to the world, doves, deer and stars in Otomi tenango designs come from Hidalgo. Pure white tablecloths and napkins with drawn lacework come from Aguascalientes.
For more Mexican touches, complete your table with handblown glassware in blue, red or green, beaten copper napkin rings and ceramics. Traditional blue and white Talavera crockery from Puebla is a classic look or choose a design from Tlaquepaque or Tonala in Guadalajara.
Pick up a variety of adornments to take home for your Christmas tree. They range from Huichol beaded eggs, miniature glass hearts and piñatas and hand-painted glass spheres to hojalata tin decorations and wooden alebrijes from Oaxaca, angels and stars made from straw and corn husks and whimsical clay figurines from the Yucatan. Metal hanging star lamps in different sizes look beautiful and set the scene.
Nacimientos or Nativity scenes in Mexico come in all shapes and sizes and are modelled from clay, either natural or painted, carved from wood, woven from straw or even made from metal. Ceramic Nativity scenes made in Merida feature Yucatecan homes, the shepherds dressed in traditional garb and tiny hammock instead of a crib. Choose a Mexican nativity scene to set out at home. In Mexico, the figure of baby Jesus is placed in the nacimiento on Christmas Eve.
And of course, you’ll find great gifts in Mexico to take home, ranging from the edible – coffee, chocolate, honey and vanilla, wine and tequila to silver and jewelry, clothing, hammocks, art and wall hangings and cushion covers in many designs to add a touch of color and Mexican warmth to any room.
Where to shop
A trip to Playa del Carmen, Valladolid and Merida to browse the craft shops, galleries and markets will yield a wealth of Mexican treasures for house and home. Happy shopping!
