Beautiful candlelight processions, the happy sounds of children laughing and the sights and sounds of the season all make Christmas in Mexico a magical, meaningful time.

In Mexico, Christmas is called La Navidad and its main celebration is called posadas, which means inns. The celebration of posadas enables Mexican families to recreate the journey of Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem.

For nine nights beginning December 16, Meixcan families visit neighbors by way of a candlelight procession. Each night, a nacimiento (nativity scene) is set up in a different home before prayers and festivities begin.

The last day of posadas is Christmas Eve, when a small figure of Baby Jesus is placed in the nacimiento.

On January 6, memorializing the day the Three Kings arrived in Bethlehem bringing gifts to Baby Jesus, Mexican children leave their shoes on the doorstep in a special celebration called Dia de los Tres Reyes Magos (Three Kings Day).

When the children awake the next morning, they are delighted to discover wonderful toys and gifts in and around their shoes.

The text is from the Holidays Around the World Information provided at Epcot.