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Show South America Adopting U.S. Yule Customs North American customs for the celebration of Christmas are becoming more popular in Latin American countries. Our southern friends, however, have many holiday traditions we could well adopt. In Mexico, for instance, dur- ing the nine days before Christmas Christ-mas candlelight processions are formed nightly. They are called Posadas. This ritual reenacts the Holy Family's journey to Bethlehem and its difficulty in finding a place to stay. It is arranged for the marchers march-ers to be refused entrance to a home then admitted with rejoicing re-joicing and great festivities. Also, Mexico has a tradition called breaking the pinata. A fragile earthen jar the pinata is filled with candy, toys and trinkets and suspended from the ceiling. Guests are blindfolded, spun around, and allowed to hit at the pinata with a stick. When it is smashed, everyone rushes for the shower of treats. The youngsters of many Latin La-tin American countries look forward to January 6 the Epiphany Epi-phany and a visit from the Three Wise Men when gifts are received. Children address their letters for Christmas to the Baby Jesus, Je-sus, care of St. Peter in many Latin American countries. And in Colombia it is a custom for merrymakers to masquerade in the streets on Christmas eve. Whenever a friend detects another's an-other's identity, he claims a reward. |