1. Celebraciones en México -Januca -Las Posadas/ Navidad -Día de los Reyes

2. Januca en México 0 La Historía: Los Conversos 0 Emigration to Mexico to avoid religious persecution (Inquisition of 1492) 0 In 1571 Spain strengthened Inquisition in Mexico 0 Conversos tried to practice their faith secretly by keeping traditions and keeping kosher 0 Over time, over 1500 people were convicted of being Judiazers

3. Los Conversos 0 Mexico is home to many with Jewish Roots 0 Vera Cruz and Puebla 0 Diego Rivera 1935: 0 "My Jewishness is the dominant element in my life…From this has come my sympathy with the downtrodden masses which motivates all my work."

4. La Historía Mid-19 th Century: Maximillian encourages Jewish immigration 1862: Over 100 Jewish people met to discuss building a synagogue Mid-19 th Century: Less than 30 Jewish families

5. La Historía 1882: Three waves of Jewish immigration begin 1884: Jewish bankers are invited to Mexico to help build the economy 1867: Benito Juarez takes over the country and secularizes Mexico

6. La Historía 1911-1913: Second wave of immigration begins 1920’s: 3 rd wave of immigration begins 1885: Mexico’s first Jewish congregation is established

7. La Historía Post-war recovery aids the elimination of anti-Semitism 2003: Anti- discrimination laws put into place 1930’s: Anti- Semitism and immigration laws put into place due to WWII, but lifted when Mexico joined Allies in 1942

8. Judaism in Mexico Today: 0 40,000-50,000 Jewish people in Mexico 0 Out of 113,423,050 = Approx. 4% 0 37,500 in Mexico City 0 23 Synagogues 0 Several Kosher restaurants 0 12 Jewish schools http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/vjw/Mexico.html http://www.casaq.com/cc_dec_09.html

9. Tradiciones 0 Similar to those of other Jewish people 0 Buñuelos instead of latkes 0 “Toma todo” instead of dreidel 0 Rules are the same 0 Dreidel shaped piñatas 0 Observed on the same dates

10. Las Posadas 0 Dec. 16 th is the first “Posada” 0 Celebration of Our Lady of Guapalupe (Mexican version of the Virgin Mary) 0 “Nacimiento” (Nativity scene) is put up 0 Celebration marks the beginning of the Christmas season- December 16 th -24 th 0 9 days long = la Novena = representative of 9 months of pregnancy 0 “Posada” = “lodging” 0 Over the nine days people reenact Mary and Joseph’s search for shelter

11. Las Posadas 0 Every one of the nine posadas ends with a party 0 Buñuelos, ponche, tamales, and other food 0 Night ends with a piñata 0 Originally had 7 cones (to represent the 7 deadly sins) and people would hit the piñata to ward off the evil 0 In the shape of the Christmas star 0 Last posada is held on the 24 th and ends with midnight mass 0 Misa de Noche Buena

12. Noche Buena 0 “Good night” 0 Dec. 24 th 0 After La Misa de Noche Buena : 0 Dinner with the family 0 Baby Jesus is put into the Nativity Scene, as he is now born 0 Gifts are not usually received on Christmas 0 Focus on Jesus and religion is much greater

13. Día de los Reyes 0 Jan. 6th 0 Common belief is that the 3 kings brought the gifts to Jesus on the 24 th 0 The three kings did not show up until the 6 th of Jan. 0 Added to the Nativity Scene on the 6 th 0 Children get small gifts from the Three Kings as well 0 Rosca de Reyes 0 Bread wreath decorated with dried fruit and sugar 0 Baby Jesus hidden inside 0 Person who finds Jesus hosts the part on the Diá de la Candelaria