Another Thanksgiving has passed, the Black Friday chaos is over, and Christmas is just around the corner. Seems that another year has somehow slipped by us, almost unnoticed, in record time - again. This has been a very good year and we are closing it out in grand fashion, with record sales numbers going back all the way to the beginning of the sales department many years ago. The 20th annual Rocky Point Rally was very busy, and Thanksgiving weekend saw almost 100% occupancy on Sandy Beach as well. Seems that Rocky Point is on a roll again.
Whale watching season is coming right up. Normally they start showing up sometime from mid-December to early January and hang around our area until late February, and sometimes well into March. There are several boats that go out often, and most of the captains are very good at finding them time after time after time. Let me know if you would like any recommendations or contact information for boats and captains with a good track record.
The weather has cooled down a bit, especially in the mornings, but by about noon, I find myself shedding my light jacket as the weather warms up and the sunshine chases away any remaining chill in the air. The weather will get cooler here over the next few months. Of course, what is cold to me isn't necessary cold to others. People continue swimming all winter - understandable in one of our heated pools - but also in the ocean, which to me gets downright frigid. Of course, the Jacuzzi's are always busier at this time of year, but it never ceases to amaze me to see people running around the lobbies of our resorts in swim trunks and bikinis during the winter months. It's always pretty easy to spot those visiting from the colder climates when you see the sharp contrast between one person walking around with a thick sweater or jacket and another dripping wet from the pool in a swimsuit - but it is common every winter.
December is a very festive month, steeped in tradition and celebrations in Mexico, and Rocky Point is certainly no exception. The activities that you are used to back in the USA are generally observed and there are many more traditions and activities surrounding Christmas and the Holiday Season to attend and enjoy throughout the month. December is also a month that brings to light many of the less fortunate people who live in our little paradise. There are several organizations and opportunities open for anyone wanting to volunteer time, money, food, clothing, and just overall good will and kindness to our fellow human beings. Most of us are happy, healthy, and comfortable in our lives, so let's not forget others who are not as fortunate and can use a hand up during this Holiday season. We hold a food drive every year at this time, I can also direct you to a number of people, and organizations that would love to have your help and/or donations. Just let me know what you have in mind and I will point you in the right direction.
Of course, everyone loves New Year's Eve, a night to reflect, make plans and resolutions, enjoy the company of old friends and new - and maybe have a few cocktails. Rocky Point has more and more become the "place to be" to enjoy the passing of one year into the beginning of the New Year. Fireworks, parties, and live music fill the streets, homes, and bars. Our resorts really fill up from the day after Christmas until New Year's Day or the day after, so if you're looking to rent a condo, it is a good idea to get it done soon.
Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year from myself and from the Sonoran Resorts. May life treat you and your loved ones well now and in the future. Life is short - do all that you can to enjoy it. Many blessings to all!
Enjoy this beautiful month, come to Rocky Point if you can, and if you need anything don't hesitate to ask. Let me put my experience and expertise to work for you, and remember, as always, I've been here full-time for over 13 years and I am more than happy to help you with whatever you need, whether Sonoran Resorts related or not.
Just give me a call or send me an email any time and I will do my very best to help you. If I can't help you myself, I'm sure that I can point you in the right direction and help find you someone who can.
Besides the links below, you can our listings at the following:
www.sonoranresorts.mx
www.sonoranresortsresales.com
AMPI Puerto Penasco MLS
Point 2 Agent Multinational MLS
Pick up a handout at any of our Sonoran Resorts
Barrett Jackson Show - Scottsdale and Las Vegas
Various Real Estate and Trade shows in AZ, NV, and CA
Our listings are also shared with the following:
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IMPORTANT: Some email providers cut this newsletter off before the end. If that happens on yours, please scroll to the bottom of this email and click "View Entire Message" to see the entire newsletter.
Sincerely,
Jim Ringquist
Broker/Sales Director
Sonoran Resorts Spa - Sea - Sun - Sky
602-476-7511
rockypointjim@gmail.com
www.SonoranResorts.mx
President/Volunteer
Tourist Assistance Unit Advisory Committee (Tourist Assistance Police)
602-774-1777
www.touristassistancerockypoint.org
touristassistancerockypoint@gmail.com
I hope that you enjoy my newsletter and continue to recommend it to your friends. Please feel free to give me thoughts, suggestions, or ideas for future newsletters. Puerto Peñasco is my home and I love to share the news and goings-on with you.
I do get email requests each month asking me to add someone to my list. While I certainly don't mind doing so, all you really need to do is click Sign-Up for Newsletter below, add the email address, and it will happen automatically. Not to worry - I will not spam you or share your email address, and you will only receive one email-newsletter each month on the 1st.
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Exclusively Serving the Sonoran Resorts
Buy & Sell Direct and SAVE!
20 Years Experience on Sandy Beach
Four Fully Completed Beachfront Resorts
We Have Earned Our Stellar Reputation
Your Only Logical Choice when Buying
or Selling a Sonoran Resorts Condo!
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Rocky Point Rally XX Event was a Success |
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The twentieth annual celebration of the Rocky Point Rally went off without a hitch and Puerto Penasco benefited from the economic boost provided by the thousands in attendance, noted Mayor Jorge Pivac Carillo.
With over 5,000 motorcyclists and an estimated 15,000 tourists from various states of North America as well as cities in Mexico, the 4-day celebration left at least 3 million dollars in town, according to data from the Convention and Visitors Bureau. (OCV) stated Mayor Pivac.
“We are very happy and motivated to have these events that bring economic benefits for the people of Penasco. We consider that expectations were exceeded with this event. It is a highly organized event with 20 years of experience and is a coordinated effort between all: public security, civil protection, Red Cross, and public services coordinating with the event organizers. There is also representation from the state with the presence of the Secretary of Tourism, Célida López Cárdenas ”, specified the Mayor.
Mayor Pivac thanked Oscar Palacio and other founders, the organizing group of this rally, for continuing to orgainze this biker party which, this year, attracted motorcyclists from Arizona, California, Nevada and Texas, as well as from Baja California, Chihuahua and Sonora.
He added that they will always have all the support of the municipal government so that Puerto Penasco continues to be a safe and fun tourist destination for special events, always offering great condo and hotel accommodations, solid infrastructure, and excellent food and drink offerings throughout. Obviously, Rocky Point is also known for her beautiful beaches and warmth of the local population.
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First Ever Rocky Point Christmas Boat Parade on December 18 |
For the first time ever, Christmas in Puerto Penasco presents the Great Nautical Christmas Parade. In coordination with Cuentanos Penasco, the Municipal Government will prepare and organize the parade at 5:00 pm on Friday December 18th for the enjoyment of families and visitors.
Onlookers will be able to see dozens of boats, decorated to the hilt with Christmas lights, traversing from the Malecon along the coast to the Sandy Beach area and back again.
The Puerto Penasco local administration is happy to share this fun new event with the public and hopes to repeat the parade, with more and more participants, each year. Don’t miss it.
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Food and Drink at the Sonoran Sky Resort:
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Mexico’s Sea of Cortez to have Own Cruise Ship? |
Sinaloa and four other states that are located in the Sea of Cortez announced that they will have a cruise which will navigate the entire Gulf of California.
In his press conference, the Governor of Sinaloa, Rocha Moya, announced the news. He was accompanied by the state secretary of Tourism, Rosario Torres, and Juan de Dios Gámez, coordinator of Social Programs of the state.
Rosario Torres made a brief report and pointed out that in recent weeks he has met with representatives of all sectors representing tourism and they have all negotiated several private investments. He also reported that tourism nationwide has recovered, with most of the tourists coming from the United States and Canada.
This year is expected to end with the arrival of about 65 cruise ships in total, but it is projected that by 2022 the figures will improve and reach up to 160 arrivals from the major companies. He also reported on the achievements in the recent Tourism Show in the city of Mérida, Yucatán, where the cruise route was submitted and even Federal Secretary of Tourism, Miguel Torruco, agreed that it the cruise will be one of the great attractions of the northwest of the country and an “anchor for more tourism.”
Although plans are still in the works, the state governor did mention that the current states onboard will be Sonora, Sinaloa, Baja Norte, and Baja Sur, and Nayarit. The governors began talks with each other and with the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association, who are analyzing the proposed project.
“They already have the design and they say they will soon have suggested proposals. We agreed that they would review the project and present us options when they finish it,” he said.
The Secretary of the Navy will establish the routes, but the economic plan will come from an private company, since there is the possibility that the project will be of a mixed nature, including government and private parties, explained Rocha Moya.
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Potpourri!
Short Shorts of All Sorts!
Sometimes so much is going on in our little slice of paradise by the sea that we can't address the many short subjects with proper attention. To handle the hodgepodge of dangling subject matter, we invented the Potpourri Page. Here are a few "short shorts" to keep you up to date.
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Sonoran Resorts Annual Food Drive |
The annual Sonoran Resorts Food Drive is active again this year. If you'll be in town sometime this month, please consider dropping off a few non-perishable food items at one of our sales offices.
Jackets and/or blankets will be welcome as well.
Thank you in advance!
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Famous Tour Boat “Rey del Mar 1” Sinks |
Fortunately, it was not in service and there were no people on board
As a result of recent small to medium intensity earthquakes in the Sea of Cortez, which caused very low tides on the beaches of Puerto Penasco, the renowned tourist pirate ship, "Rey del Mar 1", ended up sunk after stranding on its dock with the stern down, allowing water enter through the rear windows.
It should be noted that the "King of the Sea 1" had been out of service for six months and it is her sister ship "Black Pearl" which has been used for tours - so no cruises are affected by the sinking.
The "King of the Sea 1" was an icon in Puerto Peñasco, serving the tourist sector, and it had been sailing since 2006. The captain, “Capi Sanabria”, had also been famously sailing the ship since 2006.
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Sea Shepherd Visits Penasco |
The iconic Sea Shepherd visited Puerto Penasco this week and offered tours aboard to the public.
Recently Sea Shepherd entered into an agreement with Mexico’s Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources to patrol the waters of the Sea of Cortez and inform Mexico’s Federal Attorney for Environmental Protection and the Secretariat of the Navy about any abandoned gillnets located in the Zero Tolerance Area and the Vaquita Refuge. The nets will be recovered and delivered by Mexico’s National Commission for Aquaculture and Fisheries to protect the critically endangered vaquita porpoise.
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International Day for Persons with Disabilities |
Dec 3rd is International Day for Persons with Disabilities - the Centro de Atención y Terapia Infantil of Educarte AIM invites the community, organizations, and general public to a parade this Friday - gathering at Plaza a la Madre (next to baseball stadium) starting at 8 am - parade down Blvd. Juarez starts at 9 a.m. - winding its way to Plaza del Camaron (Shrimp Park). |
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Navy Rescues Four Tourists off the Coast of Las Conchas |
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The Secretary of the Navy of Mexico and National Maritime Authority, acting as the Coast Guard, reported that personnel belonging to the Search and Rescue Station (ENSAR) provided crucial support to four people who were on board a small kayak-type boat which had problems returning to shore due to the strength of the current in the vicinity of Las Conchas.
This action began when an emergency call was received at the Puerto Penasco Naval Sector Command and Control Room, in which they reported that a kayak-type boat, with four crewmembers where having problems returning to shore.
The Marine Rescue Plan was activated with the aim of safeguarding human life at sea, ordering the immediate departure of a Defender-type vessel belonging to the Naval Search, Rescue and Maritime Surveillance Station.
Once the personnel belonging to this Institution located the boat, they proceeded to provide support to the four affected, transferring them to the Naval Command Center, where they were attended by Naval Health personnel from the Naval Hospital of Puerto Penasco. After a medical check-up, the crewmembers were determined to have stable vital signs.
The Naval Sector of Puerto Penasco is available to the public for emergency care and other requests by calling the support the telephone number: 63- 383-1691. Likewise, the Secretary of the Navy has the following contact numbers in case of any emergency at sea: 800 ( 627-4621), 01 800 MARINA1.
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Roger Clyne & The Peacemakers' January Jam MLK Weekend |
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It's back! After taking a year off, Roger Clyne & The Peacemakers are re-launching the annual January Jam in Puerto Penasco over MLK Weekend, January 14-16, 2022. Three days of music, a golf tournament, NFL Playoffs, perfect weather and a long weekend - what more is there?
Tickets went on sale November 30 at www.januaryjam.net
In addition to RCPM headlining 3 shows Friday, Saturday and Sunday will be The Vandoliers (Dallas, TX), RC & the Ambers (RC Edwards from Turnpike Troubadours), Jesse Dayton (Denver), Jim Dalton (Denver), The Jons (Tucson), Andrew Leahey (Nashville) and The Summer (Puerto Penasco). Full schedule and lineup are posted on www.januaryjam.net .
Cancion Tequila will host its annual golf tournament at The Links at Las Palomas Saturday January 15th with a 9:00a shotgun start followed by lunch afterward. It's expected to sell out once again so be sure to register at the Tickets link on www.januaryjam.net . Want to play as a group? Get registered and email your names to bondmarketinggroup@yahoo.com . Proceeds will stay in Penasco benefitting family-oriented charities. Creative golf fashion is encouraged.
Feeling lucky? Beginning Friday afternoon at Banditos, purchase your raffle tickets for the chance to win Circus Mexicus VIP tickets, announce RCPM on stage Saturday night, Phoenix Open badges, Las Palomas Resort experiences, unique artwork, signed guitars, Cancion tequila, beer and much more! The drawing takes place Saturday afternoon and winners will be announced on social media and at the Sunday show at Manny's. Proceeds will also stay in Penasco also benefittng family-oriented charities.
Advance purchase VIP, discounted 3 Day GA and Single Day tickets including discounted Student tickets (for those 15-24 years old) are on sale November 30th at www.januaryjam.net . Kids under 15 are free with a paid adult. VIP tickets will include premium viewing from raised decks with seats all three days (Friday and Saturday at Banditos and Sunday at Manny's) and include VIP-only bars, restrooms and a commemorative laminate.
January Jam is back, baby. See you there.
-RCPM
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Local Public Library Celebrates 35 Years |
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The Municipal Public Library, “Lic. Benito Juárez García”, is turned 35 years old last month and to celebrate the birthday, a series of literary activities was presented and enjoyed by many in Rocky Point.
Activities began with a guided tour of the public library – complete with live online zoom transmission through the coordination of the state library network. The Municipal School of Theater "TAIDE" in CEMAR offered a performance, there were books donated to the local community centers and live storytelling sessions. In addition, a workshop to promote reading in the local CERESO was organized by the Municipal Institute of Culture and Art (IMCA) with the coordination of the Municipal Public Library.
A highlight was the presentation of books by Manuel Gonzalezpico Moreno "Stories and Poems of a broken heart"; Emir Cortez: SLASHER "The real monsters are humans"; and of course the personal talk from our dear friend, the writer Guillermo Munro, chronicler of Puerto Penasco. Munro also donated a copy of his latest literary creation "I will navigate in your memory."
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Puerto Penasco Administration to Upgrade Playa Hermosa |
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Penasco has been reaffirmed once again as a site of beautiful, inclusive beaches in northwestern Mexico, when the municipal Mayor, Jorge Pivac Carrillo, inaugurated the work of rehabilitation and improvements of the beach accesses as well as the construction of first aid and surveillance modules on Playa Hermosa so that all beachgoers can enjoy the area more completely.
The project ensures accessibility and safety to the beach, including infrastructure to allow disabled people and people with mobility problems can also enjoy the beautiful beach area safely. Mayor Pivac highlighted that this work had an investment of 13,252,000 pesos, and that the investment was made to benefit residents and visitors, including people with disabilities and the elderly making it certain that they beaches are for everyone.
“Today we are present at the entrances of the entrance of Playa Hermosa, setting a precedent for the development of infrastructure in this access, inaugurating the ramps for the disabled, rehabilitating the buildings and guard booths for the benefit of the Tourist Assistance Unit and Zofemat, making this place an accessible, inclusive, and safe tourist area with services worthy of our certified beaches as Sustainable Clean Beaches with national and international awards, "explained the Mayor.
In his speech, the director of ZOFEMAT, Luis Cesar García, announced that this integral work, which was carried out with resources from the Accumulated Fund of the Federal Maritime Zone, consists of ramps of various levels, construction of booths for security and attention to emergencies, fitted with surveillance terraces, installation of benches and garbage cans, installation of plates at the end of the ramps, construction of public toilets, public lighting with self-sustaining lamps with solar cells, and repair and maintenance of the stair access to the beaches.
After cutting the ribbon, the Mayor, accompanied by public servants who took part in the management and work as well as special guests, made a tour of the new facilities to supervise the design and functionality of the project which is being made a reality.
Luis Trujillo Aguayo, a member of the “Rolling Rokies” wheelchair basketball team, was one of the people who tested the ramps designed to go down to the beach and he took the opportunity to offer a thank you to the Mayor for helping to give easier access to people in their condition, remarking on how happy he is for himself and others who will use enjoy the beach.
“I was very pleased to know that we will be able to go down to the beach, going was something impossible, always dependent on other people, now we can even move alone, we can be independent. I am pleased to come and see that this big project carried out and that people with disabilities are being taken into account”, he stressed.
The work is part of an infrastructure and services project that includes an amphibious chair that will be made available at these entrances in compliance with the Universal Declaration of Rights.
Finally, Mayor Pivac handed over the keys to a rescue and emergency vehicle to the Tourist Assistance Unit, which will be manned by a tourist agent and a public security agent who will carry out tours of various tourist areas and zones.
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Penasco Shines at 2021 Tourism Fair in Merida |
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As Puerto Peñasco is an emerging destination with much to offer, the world needs to learn about the beauties of this paradise located in the corner of the Sea of Cortez. This is why the Puerto Peñasco OCV, represented by its director Lizette Ibarra, Marketing and Social Networks manager Sara Lilia Cardenas Franco, and administrative and promotional assistant Camila Domínguez, actively participated in the promotional fair, now considered one of the most important tourism events in Latin America.
The 2021 Tourism Fair, organized by the Federal Secretary of Tourism in an effort to boost the economy and promote Mexico’s destinations, is visited by more than 975 companies from 88 countries, and five continents, all dedicated to the tourism industry. This represents “a great opportunity to position Puerto Peñasco on the global scene”, said Lizette Ibarra, director of the Puerto Peñasco OCV.
Ibarra explained “Of course it is important that the state and Puerto Peñasco Convention & Visitors Bureaus take part in this tourism event because it is, as the slogan says, ‘the rebirth of tourism’ after what we have experienced due to the pandemic. It is very important to attend this event because we are an emerging destination. It is an opportunity to continue positioning the destination as a product, all its beauties, its outdoor activities, the hotels and everything else we have to offer. We have a very good agenda of tour operators from Mexico, United States and Canada who have approached us to work together”.
The booth representing Sonora was made up of representatives from each tourist destination, led by Sonora Secretary of Tourism, Celida Lopez Cardenas, and staff from “Visit Sonora”. From Puerto Peñasco, tour operator Claudia Reyna took part in the event, along with and the Puerto Peñasco OCV office. Representatives fulfilled several appointments previously scheduled with tourism agencies, representatives of travel agents from the United States, Canada and Mexico, and marketing companies, among others. This included a brief presentation of the destination, cards with QR codes featuring detailed information about the calendar of events, activities, and content on the official “Vive Puerto Peñasco” website, as well as USB devices with institutional video content, information on hotel infrastructure, and ‘must visit’ sites and contact information.
This tourism forum, classified as the most important in Latin America, consists of a commercial platform based on pre-established appointments between buyers and exhibitors, national and international, looking for new tourist destinations to promote.
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Mayor Pivac Met with CBP Office to Coordinate Security Efforts |
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As part of the strategy aimed at a municipal police force in constant preparation and training, Mayor Jorge Pivac Carrillo met with Jaime Torres from the United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) office, where they signed a letter of commitment to coordinate in efforts to improve the security of this city and area.
The Mayor commented that he appreciated the disposition that the US border authorities have always shown in supporting the municipality of Puerto Peñasco in terms of security, guaranteeing a safer destination for both residents and visitors.
He explained that in this municipal administration there is a firm commitment to continue training, certifying and professionalizing the elements that make up the security corporation and thereby giving ever better results in crime prevention.
He also indicated that, as the mayor of Puerto Peñasco for the next three years, he will invest in equipment, tools, technology, and the implementation of new and improved measures for a better performance of all the elements that make up the security sector of this city and actively work against any acts of corruption with citizens and visitors.
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Shrimp Fishermen Say Catch has Been Lower than Expected |
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Shrimp fisherman are disappointed so far this season as they consider that the catches obtained have not been those expected and that it will not represent a profitable year. According to many, the shrimp catch in the Sea of Cortez is not going well, to the extent that several fishermen have already become discouraged and ended their season early, considering the season lost due to the low production obtained so far.
According to official sources, a few pangas have achieved a regular catch, but most of the fleet has not achieved good results. They said that, at the beginning of the season, things seem to be going well, but in the subsequent days the production has dropped is no longer the same, so on many occasions they return almost empty-handed.
They commented that the one positive thing about this season is the price, because it has increased to approximately 350 pesos per kilo, when it was very recently only 200 pesos per kilo, but many feel that has been due to the shortage of the product in the market. Still, the higher price has provided a better return for many.
Shrimp season goes through March and most hold out hope that things will turn around and the catch will improve, but some have already become discouraged and do not believe that there will be a rebound in production. They also expressed that shrimp production has not been constant, having a very good day, followed by a bad one. Time will tell if the catch will improve throughout the rest of the season, but all are hoping that it does.
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US Dollar Reaches Exchange Rate of 22 Pesos |
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The price of the dollar was quoted at 21.60 pesos after the president, Andrés Manuel López Obrador (AMLO), announced that he will propose Victoria Rodríguez Ceja as head of the Bank of Mexico (Banxico). In some banks in Mexico City (CDMX) the dollar reached 22 pesos.
The Mexican currency traded at 21.39 per dollar, down 1.05% compared to 21.17 in the reference price on Tuesday, but earlier it fell 2% to 21.60 units, its weakest level since March 8.
The local benchmark S & P / BMV IPC index fell 0.48% at half a day to 50,869.08 points with a volume of 48.6 million securities traded.
Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador (AMLO) withdrew his nomination from former Finance Secretary Arturo Herrera to head the central bank and said he would nominate Undersecretary of Finance Victoria Rodríguez for the position instead. The announcement came on the same day that it was known that local inflation accelerated in the first half of November above expectations.
"Rodríguez has vast experience in public finance, but not in the management of monetary policy," Monex financial group said in a report. "Banxico will play a crucial role in managing future (inflation) expectations and the recent announcement creates uncertainty about the position which will continue into the coming months," she added.
López Obrador said that the announcement about the next head of Banxico was not the reason why the currency was depreciating and attributed it to external causes and the advance of the US currency. The dollar hit 16-month highs against the euro on Wednesday as investors appreciated the prospect that the Federal Reserve will begin raising interest rates in mid-2022.
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The Virgin Guadalupe and Juan Diego |
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It’s estimated that a million or more Catholic Mexicans visit the Basilica de Guadalupe in northeastern Mexico City on December 12 to pay homage to the country’s most revered religious icon: La Virgen Guadalupe, Our Lady of Guadalupe.
Some people begin walking to the basilica —in some cases from towns and villages miles away— hours or days before the 12th. Many of the pilgrims crawl the last few hundred yards of the journey, from the gates of the basilica to the church itself on their knees: a symbolic, painful experience. The pilgrims will arrive late on the eve of the day or in the early hours of the morning to ensure that they are at or near the shrine at sunrise.
The history which led up to this occasion goes back to the time of the Spanish conquest. When the Spaniards arrived, they found indigenous peoples with strong, deeply-rooted belief systems of their own.
The story of Juan Diego takes place on December 12th, 1531. According to narratives, the Virgin of Guadalupe appeared to him when he was walking on a hill named Tepeyac. The apparition is described as a young woman with black hair and darkened skin, which is why the Virgin Guadalupe is sometimes referred to as “la virgen morena” (the brown-skinned virgin).
The virgin told Juan Diego to go and tell the local Bishop to build a church on this hill, and Juan Diego did as he was told. However, the Bishop was left unconvinced by the story and gave the boy short shrift.
So the virgin appeared once more, and on the second occasion told Juan Diego to collect flowers from the top of the hill. Being December, Juan did not expect to find any but upon his arrival there, he found the hill covered with beautiful flowers. As instructed, he collected some and, using his overcoat to carry them, returned to see the Bishop.
The Bishop, seeing the unseasonable flowers, also saw an image of the Virgin Guadalupe imprinted onto to the coat. Convinced it was a miracle, he ordered the building of the church on the hill of Tepeyac—at the precise location where the current-day basilica is situated in Mexico City.
Today, Catholic Mexicans bring gifts and offerings to the virgin, petitioning her for help and good providence; for example, when a family member is ill, when there is conflict in their life, or when they are to embark upon some personal or business endeavor.
For those who cannot make it to the basilica in the country’s capital, private vigils are held at homes and churches across the nation. Fire crackers are often let-off, filling the night sky with lights and resonating sounds; celebrations also include fiestas with processions in the virgin’s honor.
Juan Diego was canonized by Pope John Paul II in 2002, at which time the Pope said, “Christ’s message, through his mother, took up the central elements of indigenous culture, purified them, and gave them a definitive sense of salvation … facilitating the fruitful meeting of two worlds and becoming the catalyst for a new Mexican identity.”
The Virgin Guadalupe is omnipresent in modern-day Mexican culture. Images of the virgin may be seen everywhere: at churches, at street shrines, in taxis and buses, in homes, stores, bus stations and airports; in people’s cars, in offices, and even as tattoos. Nearly five hundred years later, the Virgin Guadalupe continues to be adored and revered as a guardian, minder, and savior by millions of Catholic Mexicans.
December 12 also marks the beginning of the Christmas Holiday season in Mexico, colloquially known as Guadalupe-Reyes, referring to the period between December 12, and Jan 6—Kings’ Day.
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Kings’ Day Gifts and Kings’ Loaf Traditions in Mexico |
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Mexico traditionally closes out its Christmas and New Year celebrations on January 6th—"Día de Reyes"
Never a country to shirk its festive responsibilities, Mexico traditionally closes out its Christmas and New Year celebrations on January 6th, Día de Reyes or Three Kings Day.
Also known as Epiphany, the date marks the visit of the Magi to the Christ child: they are traditionally considered to have numbered three wise men, corresponding to the three gifts mentioned in the Bible.
For many years, Three Kings Day was the date when gifts would be given to Mexican children, who would put shoes out before going to bed on the evening of January 5th. Although this was gradually and inexorably taken over by the imported tradition of Santa Claus, families here maintain the tradition of giving children toys on Three Kings Day. Rather than the main course, this is for many a complement to the excesses of modern-day Christmas; “Por no dejar” —for the sake of keeping it— as some may say.
The continuation of Three Kings Day celebration is notable in the commercial world — toy prices in Mexican stores aren’t discounted to unload leftover inventory until around the second week of January, and the days leading up to January 5th can often see shoppers out late at stores and markets desperately seeking to fill last-minute orders.
The extravagant meals taken at Christmas and New Year are not repeated on Día de Reyes, but instead Rosca de Reyes (“Kings’ Loaf”) is eaten, usually with hot chocolate. The large oval-shaped cakes — sweet bread topped with crystallized fruit and sugar — are interspersed with little plastic dolls representing the baby Jesus. Whoever gets a doll in their slice, and you have to cut your own to avoid feelings of being cheated, is supposed to buy the tamales on February 2nd — Día de la Candelaria: a Catholic tradition celebrating the presentation of Jesus in the temple.
How many of the people who get the slices with dolls actually end up buying the tamales themselves is an open question. But you probably don’t want to gather for Rosca with people who insist on further slicing each slice horizontally to inspect for dolls: not the spirit you’d want to start out the year with.
Rosca de Reyes, of course, shows up in the shops long before January, just as Pan de Muerto is usually available long before Día de los Muertos—in some places as early as August.
There are other ways in which Día de Reyes marks the end of the long holiday season, sometimes referred to as Guadalupe-Reyes to describe the slow month between Our Lady of Guadalupe on December 12th and the grade schools going back for the new term around January 7th.
It’s also the time to start taking down Christmas trees, festive lights, and other seasonal decorations. But there’s no rush.
Candelaria on February 2nd isn’t a holiday in the sense of having the day off work, but it does come a few days before the Constitution Day holiday, which is celebrated on the first Monday in February. That is also an official holiday, and for U.S. sports fans it has the added advantage of usually being the day after Super Bowl Sunday.
So tamales and American football. It doesn’t get much more convenient, or neighborly, than that.
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Meet the Sonoran's Family of Beachfront Resorts |
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Thanksgiving Leftovers? Make Classic Mexican Dishes with that Extra Turkey |
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Look beyond soup and sandwiches to pozole, carnitas, enmoladas and more. Thanksgiving is over, and in the food world (at least in the United States), that means leftover turkey.
Years of habit have accustomed many who celebrate to a week of leftover turkey, and the things we do with it are as much a part of our Thanksgiving traditions as the cranberry sauce and mashed potatoes. We all have our favorites: sandwiches, soup, or turkey salad.
Time to change it up a bit and think of some Mexican-inspired recipes for leftover turkey or chicken. Here's a few for starters:
Easy Turkey Enmoladas
These are so easy and delicious! Use whatever kind of store-bought or homemade mole you like.
4-8 corn tortillas, warmed till soft
Leftover roast turkey or chicken (¼ cup per tortilla)
3 Tbsp. vegetable oil
Salt
¼ cup mole sauce per tortilla
1 Tbsp. crema per tortilla
For serving: cotija cheese, sliced white onions, minced fresh cilantro, lime wedges
In each tortilla, place about ¼ cup of meat in a line, a bit off-center. Don’t fill them too much!
Roll tightly into a cigar shape and rest seam-side-down. Repeat with remaining tortillas and meat.
Heat oil in cast-iron or nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to medium.
Add enchiladas seam-side-down in a single row. Cook without moving until crisp on first side, 2–3 minutes.
Carefully turn with tongs; cook on second side until crisp. Remove from pan; drain on paper towels.
Season with salt immediately. To serve, spread half of sauce on a plate. Top with enchiladas, spoon remaining sauce on top. Drizzle with crema.
Sprinkle with cotija, onions and cilantro. Serve with lime wedges.
Find mole for enmoladas in cans or fresh in your market’s prepared foods section.
Turkey Tortilla Soup
For a milder flavor, omit one ancho and one pasilla chile and replace 1 cup stock with one (14.4-ounce) can of diced tomatoes with juice.
2 pasilla chiles
2 ancho chiles
2 whole canned chipotle chiles in adobo plus 1 Tbsp. sauce
2 quarts chicken or turkey broth
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 large onion, finely diced
1 whole poblano pepper, seeds and stem removed, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
Salt
2 tsp. ground cumin
1 lb. leftover turkey or chicken, shredded
For serving: tortilla strips or chips, minced cilantro, diced avocado, jalapeño and scallions, lime wedges
Combine pasilla, ancho and chipotle chiles in a medium-sized saucepan. Add half the broth.
Simmer over medium heat until tender, about 15 minutes. Transfer to blender; process until completely smooth.
Heat oil in large saucepan over high heat. Add onions and poblano pepper and cook, stirring, until softened but not browned, about 2 minutes.
Add garlic and cumin and cook about 30 seconds. Add remaining broth and chile purée. Bring to a boil over high heat, reduce to simmer, add meat and cook about 5 minutes.
Season to taste with salt. Serve hot, with tortilla strips, scallions, cilantro, avocado, jalapeños as garnishes at the table, plus lime wedges.
Turkey Carnitas
Substitute these for the pork carnitas in any recipe. Delicious in tacos, burritos or quesadillas or on top of nachos.
Any amount leftover cooked dark-meat turkey/chicken (thighs and drumsticks)
Salt
Per lb. of meat: 1 orange, 1 medium onion, 2 bay leaves, 2 Tbsp. vegetable oil, chicken/turkey fat
Combine meat (with bones if available), orange, onion and bay leaves in a pot that fits everything snugly. Add enough water to cover halfway. Cover, bring to boil, then reduce to a bare simmer and cook about 1 hour until turkey is fall-off-the-bone tender.
Discard orange, onion and bay leaves; drain turkey well. Shred meat; discard bones.
Heat oil or fat in cast-iron or nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add meat, and spread into an even layer. Cook without moving about 5 minutes until meat is well browned and crisp on bottom. Then stir to incorporate the crisp bits and move new soft bits to the bottom. Continue this process until the meat is as crisp as you like it. Season to taste with salt.
Turkey Pozole
1 Tbsp. olive oil
1 large onion, chopped
2 large poblanos, cut into ¼-inch pieces
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 tsp. ground cumin
3 Tbsp. tomato paste
6 cups chicken broth
1 (29-oz. can) hominy, rinsed
Salt
2 cups leftover shredded turkey/chicken
½ cup minced fresh cilantro, plus more for serving
For serving: corn tortilla strips, radishes, avocado, cotija cheese, lime wedges
Heat oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add onion and poblanos. Cover and cook, stirring occasionally, until just tender, 5–6 minutes. Add garlic, cumin and tomato paste; cook, stirring, 2–3 minutes. Stir in broth, hominy and ½ tsp. salt; bring to boil.
Reduce heat, simmer 10 minutes. Add meat and cilantro; cook about 3 minutes until hot.
Serve topped with tortilla strips, radishes, avocado, cilantro, cotija and a squeeze of lime.
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There’s More to Piñatas than Meets the Eye |
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The colorful piñata is a hallmark of Mexican festive traditions, and more thought and decision-making goes into a piñata ritual than is readily apparent
The highlight of many a Mexican festive occasion —a birthday celebration, Christmas party, or Posada— is the breaking of the piñata.
For the uninitiated, the piñata is a decorated clay pot or papier-mâché container filled with treats (more about those later) which is strung from a rope and flailed at in turns by party-goers who are blindfolded and armed with a stick. A person at one end of the rope —or sometimes a person at each end— will be able to swing the piñata in an attempt to keep it away from its assailant, and make the game last as long as possible.
When the piñata breaks, the contents are scattered on the ground and a rush is made to collect as much loot as possible.
At most children’s birthday parties and Christmas posadas the order in which the participants get a shot is based on age, from youngest to eldest. This is logical since the bigger the person, the more likely they are to break the piñata, and the idea is to keep it going for a good while—at least long enough to ensure that every child has a turn.
The duration of a “turn” is as long as it takes to sing the piñata song, which goes like this:
Dale dale dale, no pierdas el tino,
Porque si lo pierdes, pierdes el camino.
Ya le diste uno,
Ya le diste dos,
Ya le diste tres y tu tiempo se acabó.
Which loosely translates as:
Hit-it hit-it hit-it, don’t lose your aim,
Because if you lose it, you will lose your way.
Now you’ve hit it once,
Now you’ve hit it twice,
Now you’ve hit it three times,
And your time is up.
More thought and decision-making goes into a simple piñata ritual than you might expect:
First of all, what should go inside the piñata?
Christmas piñatas tend to be healthier than birthday piñatas. They usually contain pieces of sugar cane, tangerines, or little oranges called naranjas piñateras, peanuts, a Mexican fruit called tejocote, limas (a sort of cross between an orange and a lime) and a variety of candy: boiled sweets, chocolate coins, and such. Birthday piñatas tend to have more candy and less fruit. Some piñatas may also contain small toys and other trinkets.
Next, where to stretch the rope on which the piñata will be strung?
This often involves at least one person, usually an adult, leaning precariously out of an upstairs window, on a rooftop terrace, or hanging-off the side of one of those spiral iron staircases common in Mexico as a way up onto the roof.
Finding the right stick to strike the piñata
A traditional wooden broom handle is the best, and if you visit your local ferreteria you should be able to buy one. The new-style hollow plastic or thin hollow metal tube handles are too light to make any impression on the piñata, especially the more common papier-mâché ones which are quite resistant. A baseball bat is too heavy for the smaller swingers and gives an unfair advantage to the bigger children or adults. Piñata shops actually sell sticks that are about the right size and weight, which is fine in today’s world of ready-made. If the stick doesn’t break during the ritual, it can be stored ready for the next party.
Add a blindfold and the piñata ritual can begin
Once the piñata is all set up, and someone finds an adequate scarf or bandanna to use as a blindfold, the fun is ready to begin. (The little children are not blindfolded, by the way.)
If the piñata is one of the spherical ones with paper cones stuck on it, a common strategy frequently used by players is to knock-off one or more of the cones without breaking the piñata. There’s a sort of unwritten rule that if you break one of those off, that ends your turn, but you get to keep the cone, which is useful for filling with goodies once the piñata is broken. If the piñata is thematic —Disney characters seem perennially popular— an arm or a leg or any other non-core piece of the piñata could be broken-off and kept for the same purpose.
With clay-pot piñatas, one good crack can break them open and the contents would spill on the floor. With the more common and most popular papier-mâché variety, often the piñata will split rather than break, and just a few things fall out, prompting some of the children to rush-in to grab them while the person with the stick may still be in full-swing: if blind-folded, they might not realize the piñata has been split. This calls for a time-out while the stray pieces of fruit or candy are retrieved. If the split or tear in the piñata is big enough, the person in charge of the rope will usually shake it up and down so that more fall out. Then one of the adults will take it upon him or herself to declare the piñata broken, step into the arena, grab the damaged artifact and shake it until all the contents are emptied onto the ground.
This signal is a cue for the scrum, as children rush-in armed with their cones and other piñata parts, or at least one of those ubiquitous plastic bags, to fill.
After the adrenaline fest, adults with brooms appear to sweep up the remains of tissue paper, papier-mâché, and the odd broken fruit no one claimed; and some redress is made in benefit of the less aggressive of the participants whose share of the loot doesn’t come anywhere near to what even the least social-minded might consider fair.
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April 2021
Let me know if you would like links to any of the earlier ones. (Almost 10 years worth)
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Just for the fun of it... |
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Jim Ringquist
rockypointjim@gmail.com
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