Mexican Decorating Ideas for Christmas

Give your holidays a fiesta flair and spice up your home with Mexican Christmas decorations. Turn on some Mariachi music and begin decorating your heart away.

Here are 5 fun Mexican Decorating Ideas.

1. Nacimiento (Natavity Scene) - This is a must in every Mexican home during Christmas. Whether indoors or outdoors, the nativity scene should have a special place in the home. You may purchase one at any store in the Christmas decoration aisle.

2. La Flor De Noche Buena (Poinsettias) - This also known as the Christmas flower. The folktale behind this beautiful flower involves a peasant girl who was going to see the baby Jesus and did not have anything to bring when an angel told her to pick a bouquet of weeds from along the roadside. When the little girl presented her small gift, among its ornate counterparts, legend has it that the weeds transformed into a gorgeous arrangement of brilliant red flowers. Poinsettias can be purchased from your local grocer or nursery. An inexpensive way to decorate with these flowers would be to trace out a pattern of the flower on red construction paper and cut it out. You can also add green leaves for an added touch. Coloring one from a coloring page would work as well. Here's a link for a pattern: http://www.apples4theteacher.com/coloring-pages/christmas/christmas-poinsettia.html

3. Pinata - This tradition is used not only to celebrate Christmas but also birthdays. You may buy several and set them out for decoration around the house in the weeks before Christmas and then celebrate the birth of Jesus by breaking them open and collecting the candy that falls out. Here is an easy way to make one http://www.chevroncars.com/learn/fun-games/how-to-make-pinata

4. Luminaries - These are a fun way to decorate the outside of the home. They give a nice soft glow and a Mexican touch to your walkway. You may purchase brown lunch bags from any craft or grocery store. You may also use green and red bags alternating in color for a more creative flair. Fill the bags with about 2 inches of sand or potting soil, whichever may be handy. Then place small tea light candles in the middle of the sand, making sure they're secure. Luminaries should be placed approximately a foot apart. Light luminaries at dusk and watch their beautiful glow.

5. Ojo De Dios Ornamant (God's Eye) - This little ornament is a delightful way to add a Mexican touch to your Christmas tree. You will need a hot glue gun, 2 popsicle sticks or a couple of twigs, and different colors of yarn. You can start out by holding the two sticks together with one hand and wrapping with the other but for an easier way, glue the two sticks to form a cross. Let dry. Start by tying a knot to the middle of the cross and begin wrapping by alternating over the "arms" of the cross. Using different colored yarn give this ornament an eye catching effect.

Hope you enjoy these simple ideas for giving your home a traditional Mexican feel. Feliz Navidad Y Ano Nuevo!