Forget Santa – Mexicans Show You the True Spirit of the Holidays Lies in 'Smashing the Past'

When Christmas comes to mind, what do you picture? A Christmas tree twinkling with lights, crisp white snow, or Santa Claus flying in his sleigh?

This 'globally standardised' Christmas template is familiar to us all. But honestly, it often feels like a meticulously packaged commercial spectacle – lively, yet lacking a certain human touch.

But what if I told you that on the other side of the world, Christmas is celebrated in a way that's as lively and vibrant as our Chinese New Year, overflowing with the joy of reunion and the ritualistic spirit of bidding farewell to the old and ushering in the new?

That place is Mexico. Their way of celebrating is simple, direct, yet profoundly heartwarming.

Smash a New Year, Just Like Setting Off Firecrackers

When we celebrate Chinese New Year, why do we set off firecrackers? It's to scare away the 'Nian' monster, banish the past year's misfortunes, and usher in good luck for the new one.

Mexicans also have a similar 'secret weapon': the Piñata.

You've probably seen them in films: a colourful papier-mâché figure, hung high, with people blindfolded, taking turns to hit it with a stick.

But it's far more than just a party game.

Traditionally, a piñata has a central sphere with seven protruding cones. These seven points symbolise the Seven Deadly Sins: greed, sloth, envy, pride... These represent the 'negative energies' or 'misfortunes' that have, to some extent, resided within each of us over the past year.

Being blindfolded represents our struggle against inner darkness, guided by 'faith' rather than sight. When people work together to smash the piñata to smithereens with sticks, it's not just a loud bang; it's a profound declaration: we are utterly shattering all the unhappiness, sins, and bad luck of the past year.

When the piñata breaks, the sweets and confetti inside cascade down like a waterfall, and everyone cheers and rushes forward to share in this sweet 'blessing'.

Isn't this ritual of 'smashing the past and sharing blessings' far more powerful and profound than simply unwrapping presents?

The True Holiday Is a 'Reunion Marathon'

With the 'piñata smashing' as its core ritual, Mexico's Christmas season (which they call Posadas) becomes a nine-day 'visiting marathon'.

From 16th December until Christmas Eve, neighbours, friends, and family take turns hosting parties every evening. There's not much fuss or formality; the core spirit is simply one thing: being together.

Everyone gathers to share food, sing loudly, and of course, the most important part is together 'smashing' the piñata that symbolises old worries. This is the true soul of the festival – it's not about what you receive, but about who you are with, what you collectively bid farewell to, and what you will welcome together.

The Taste of the Holiday: Mum's Heart-Warming Soup

Such lively parties naturally demand delicious food. The dishes on Mexican Christmas tables are also bursting with the taste of home.

Forget those cold salads; on chilly winter nights, Mexicans serve up a steaming bowl of Pozole. This is a rich, hearty soup made with large hominy kernels and pork, tasting a bit like our Chinese 'Si Shen Tang' (Four Herbs Soup) – it's thick and mellow, warming you from your stomach to your heart with every mouthful.

There's also a food that Chinese people would find particularly familiar – Tamales. They're made by wrapping fillings like chicken and pork in corn dough, then steaming them in corn husks or banana leaves. Both in their appearance and their status as a staple, they bear a striking resemblance to our Zongzi.

Of course, there's also hot fruit punch (Ponche) made with various fruits and cinnamon, as well as the sweet chocolate corn drink (Champurrado). Every dish is imbued with the warm spirit of 'sharing together'.

The True Meaning of Holidays: Connection Across Languages

By now, you might realise that whether it's Christmas in Mexico or our Chinese New Year, their core value is essentially the same word: Connection.

We yearn to connect with family and friends, with tradition, and even more so with the hope of 'bidding farewell to the old and ushering in the new'. These holiday rituals, whether it's setting off firecrackers or smashing piñatas, all help us achieve this connection.

Yet nowadays, we often feel this connection is becoming increasingly difficult. Perhaps we can learn something from Mexicans: true connection requires active creation, and even a bit of courage to 'break' barriers.

Breaking down language barriers is the first step.

Imagine if you could chat online with a Mexican friend, ask them about their family's traditional Pozole recipe, or what shape of piñata they've prepared this year. This kind of authentic exchange is far more vivid and profound than reading a thousand travel guides.

This is precisely the purpose of tools like Lingogram. It's not just a chat application; its built-in AI translation feature allows you to converse in real-time with people from any corner of the world, almost without barriers. It breaks down that thickest wall, allowing you to move beyond being just a cultural 'observer' and become a true 'participant' and 'connector'.

So, next time you celebrate a holiday, don't just be content with those superficial rituals.

Try to 'smash' something – smash the past that troubles you, smash the barriers that hinder your connection with the world. You'll find that when the pieces fall, what unfolds before you is a newer, more authentic, warmer, and truly more celebratory world.