Also known as Epiphany, this day marks the end of the 12 days of Christmas and is embodied most in the story of the three wise men visiting newborn Jesus with gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

Here in Vallarta, the traditional cake, Rosca de Reyes, a crown-shaped circle of dough usually decorated with fruits like dried figs, orange peels and cherries are prepared. Our local panaderia, using an old family recipe and their wood-fired oven, bake hundreds of these cakes only on the evening before, for distribution to local bakeries.  We stopped in to buy ours, and received a warm, just out of the oven sample!

According to custom, a small figure of baby Jesus is baked into each rosca, to represent the fact that he had to be hidden and protected at birth. When the time comes to cut the rosca, tradition dictates that whoever finds the baby Jesus figurine, must provide tamales and drinks for the celebration of Candelaria, or Candelmas, which marks the end of the holiday season on February 2^nd, and is the day families take their year’s supply of candles to the church for blessing.

Sandra Cesca for Learn Vallarta.

The political fate of Mexico for the next six years will be determined on July 1, 2012, as Mexico holds its presidential election, selecting a successor to current  President Felipe Calderón.  Some 80 million Mexicans will be eligible to vote for a new president, 628 legislators and thousands of other officials in the general elections.  Enrique Peña Nieto has been selected as the candidate of the Compromiso por Mexico or PRI. Its decades of rule, when the party controlled governments, unions and media across the nation, were marked by corruption and heavy-handedness. Its opponents warn that PRI’s claims that it has reformed and modernized are bogus.

The conservative National Action Party, or PAN, represented by current President Calderón, has not decided on a candidate yet.  The PAN suffers from growing discontent with the federal government over issues including a sluggish economy and rising violence from Calderon’s military-led offensive against powerful drug cartels. 

Former Mexico City Mayor Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, who ran in the last presidential election, is awaiting formal confirmation of his candidacy for the PRD.

Excerpted from Banderas News and The Los Angeles Times

This is an important social ritual that the Latino people see as a way of recognizing the cycle of life and death that is human existence.  In certain areas, an all-night candlelight vigil takes place by the graves of the family members. The whole occasion is festive, and everyone talks of the dead as if they were still alive. During this time, people remember, re-live, and enjoy rather than fearing evil or malevolent spirits.  Some Mexican families spend hours in the cemetery near the grave of the dearly departed, where they clean the grave, plant flowers, have a picnic and hire musicians to sing a favorite song of the deceased.

The traditional food of the day, pan de muerto, a sweet yolk bread sprinkled with sugar, is of European origin.  It is said to be good luck to be the one who bites into the plastic toy skeleton hidden by the baker in each loaf. The “calavera” (skull) is a humorously morbid poem which is addressed to a friend or public figure. This genre of poetry has its origin in Cervantes’ Don Quixote, in early 17th century Spain. Candy in the shape of small sugar skulls are meant to be consumed signifying eating one’s death.     Read more…..

So where are the best places to buy your valentine some delicious chocolate that he or she will always remember you for?  Here are three of my favorites….any of the dark chocolate truffles at Xocodiva’s in Old Town.  ”Besos” from Pie in the Sky, also in Old Town, and at their main shop in Bucerias… warm, gooey chocolate muffins with brown liquid centers.  And for you Starbuck lovers, their brownies are excellent, especially with a hot cup of chai or latte.  Valentine’s Day is next Monday…..wrap any of these up and surprise your loved ones.

And if you are thinking of your heart or your waist line about now, walking Vallarta is one of the best ways to help you “digest” those chocolate goodies.  Join one of our easy walking tours to enliven your Valentine’s Day.

Walking is perhaps the best way to learn about Vallarta.  Walking tours are our specialty along with helping folks relocate or retire here.  Our recent visitors from Michigan enjoyed  two of our walking tours.  Read what they have to say:  “PVR is a great city for walking and we have wondered in the past why there were no walking tours. We stumbled onto Learn Vallarta after seeing a notice in the English paper”…  Trip Advisor

Tonight is the big blast here in Vallarta!  El Centro will be jumping with all sorts of people, costumes, vendors selling balloons and cotton candy, clowns on stilts, live music from the Los Arcos stage and ending at midnight with the finale of fireworks to shake you in your shoes, the smell of sulfur drifting through the air as the splendor of colors erupts in the sky.  Come on down and mix with the happy crowds.  This will be a night to remember.  Feliz Año Nuevo to all and may next year be prosporous and rewarding for all of you.

Las Posadas is a celebration of Roman Catholic worship prior to Christmas.  The practice of Mexican posadas, of Spanish origin, began in the town of San Augustine Acolman, northwest of Mexico City, one of the first places where these religious celebrations were established to carry out the task of evangelizaton.

Originally these nine masses, held from December 16 to24, referred to the nine months of Mary’s pregnancy, ending with the last on the eve of Christmas. Included also was the symbolic commemoration of  the journey of the Holy Family from Galilee to Bethlehem prior to the birth of Jesus.   

Over the years, the posada moved out of the church and gained more power in the neighborhoods and homes of the Mexican people as they formed groups which wandered from home to home asking for food and accommodations through the singing of the traditional posada song.

Today, many towns hold posadas as do organizations and families. Candles are lit and carried while the procession wanders though the neighborhood singing for accommodation and food.  Children may dress up as Joseph, Mary, or angels.  At the final home, food such as tamales and mulled punch are then served. Fire works and piñatas may be part of the celebration.

Gringo Gulch Cupola

So where is this charming neighborhood in Puerto Vallarta and how did it get its name?  Did you know it’s really on a hill and not in a gulch at all?  Who first lived here and why?  And how are Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, and John Huston connected with this area?  Guillermo Wulff, Mexico City engineer who brought the cupola to Vallarta construction, was their friend and instrumental in developing the architectural style of Vallarta.  Who was he and how did he get here?  Step into the past as you learn about this history on our Old Vallarta Architecture and History walking tour.  You will be fascinated with the stories and the beauty of the cobblestone streets and colonial villas, many now turned into boutique hotels like Hacienda San Angel.

Many of you told us you didn’t have time to do all our tours that were included in our earlier package so now we have taken some of the best of our tours and services and created a three-hour walking tour with lunch that will introduce you to the people, shops, products, and services that make Vallarta a delightful place to visit or live. You will visit some typical neighborhoods, meet owners of family-run shops and markets, and have the opportunity to purchase fresh produce, meats, cheeses, Mexican curios and art, and to savor street vendor’s offerings.  Access to our free professional consultations and free area real estate tours are also included.  This is a great way to immerse yourself and see what it’s like to live here.  Only $24.50 per person.  For more information go to our website:  www.learnvallarta.com or call us today.

Our second Malecon sculpture walk on July 6 attracted 11 more visitors and friends.  From the start it was obvious we were going to have a fun time as we all joked and laughed together.  As you can see from the photos, the summer weather still threatened rain, but we finished as the first drops began to fall.  Many were amazed at the wealth of information and personal stories connected with each of these beautiful sculptures.  Next walk is Tuesday, July 13, 6:30 pm.