Traditional Christmas Foods in Cozumel

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Traditional Christmas Foods in Cozumel include Ensalada de Noche Buena, Tamales, Bacalao, Romeritos, Pozole, Pavo, Buñuelos, and Ponche Navideño. You can expect to see  these dishes and beverage in  Mexican Homes or in restaurants menus.

Ensalada de Noche Buena

The Ensalada de Noche Buena is a festive looking salad.  This salad usually has lettuce and beets. The other ingredients vary according to the place and the chef’s preference.

The salad may include apple, carrot, orange, pineapple, jicama, pecans or peanuts, and pomegranate seeds as a garnish.

Tamales

Tamales  consists of cornmeal on the outside and have a variety of fillings. Corn husks and banana leaves are used to wrap tamales before steaming.

It is very time consuming to prepare tamales, making them a special holiday food – made a few times throughout the year, in large batches. You will find that Tamales vary from state to state in Mexico.

Bacalao

The Bacalao  is a dried and salted codfish. It starts showing up in markets and grocery stores throughout Mexico as Christmas approaches. This dish that originated in Europe has become a common part of a traditional Mexican Christmas feast.

A popular recipe is * Bacalao a la Vizcaina¨. The dish contains cod, tomatoes, capers, olives, and potatoes. This dish is prepared in a variety of ways. My Aunt makes this for us every year, Her recipe is from Spain and was passed down from my grandmother. It is simple to make and delicious.   The Cozumel Sun has this recipe!

Romeritos

A Romeritos is a small green leaf vegetable. It is called Romelitos because the plant resembles rosemary.

The dish is often served as ¨Romeritos en Revoltijo.¨ It contains shrimp cakes and is doused in mole. This is a favorite of my Cozumel friends; I have not been able to warm up to it.  The Cozumel Sun has this recipe!

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Traditional Christmas Foods in Cozumel Continued

Pozole

The Pozole is a hominy soup. The soup consists of pork or chicken. The seasoning used is Chile and garlic. The Pozole has Shredded lettuce, cabbage, thinly sliced radishes, avocado, oregano, and Lime wedges on the side.

This hearty meak makes a great party food.  The Pozole is popular at Christmas and  Mexican Independence Day meals.  If you have not had Pozole, you are missing out. It is a year around favorite in my household.

Pavo

Pavos are native to Mexico and a popular choice for a Mexican Christmas Eve dinner. At Christmas time a turkey can be roasted, or served with a mole sauce. Do not expect the American version! Mexican turkeys are injected with Coca Cola or wine, seasoned differently and the stuffing is not your typical American stuffing.

Buñuelos

Served with a hot drink, Buñuelos make an excellent treat on a cold night. This crispy fried treat is like a sweet tostada. Buñuelos can be sprinkled with sugar or doused in syrup. At Christmas time, you can find stands in Oaxaca, that sell buñuelos and atole.

After enjoying the sweet fritter, you make a wish and throw your clay plate on the ground, where it smashes to bits. It was Pre-Hispanic tradition to break all the dishes at the end of a calendar cycle/

Ponche Navideño

The Ponche Navideño is a fruit punch made with Tejocotes. This is Mexican Hawthorn that looks like a crab apple with a large pit and an unique flavor. 

It contains guavas, apples, and other fruit. The Ponche Navideño is cinnamon flavor and sweetened with piloncillo.

Traditional Christmas Foods in Cozumel

How You Can Help Cozumel This Christmas

You may visit any of the community kitchens  if you are in Cozumel.

For example, you can drop off a supermarket gift card, food, or cash at any of the listed community kitchen locations.

In addition, you can Volunteer to help. There is a lot of work involved in cooking in large quantities to feed hundreds of peopkle daily.. Firstly, there is shopping for ingredients at the lowest price. Secondly the preparation of the food. Thirdly is the cooking, followed by the serving. Lastly, there is the cleaning.

Likewise, you can Donate Through The Cozumel Sun. The Cozumel Sun accepts donations 0nly for the community Kitchens of Brenda Briceño Can and Jorge Moreno, and ofcourse, TCS. Donating is easy, just click on TCS´s PayPal Donate button on our home page. TCS will absorb the PayPal fees and the 16% IVA taxes for the two community kitchens.

Importantly, please designate where and how your donation is to be distributed, or simply specify “where it is needed”.

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The Cozumel Sun Community Assistance

During the past years TCS has raised funds for Groceries, Medical Emergencies, Medicine, Clothing, School related expenses, and repairing shelters.

In addition, we have a “”drop in” meal policy, we feed the hungry no questions asked. Children in the immediate (Colonia Independencia) and surrounding neighborhoods are our priority. However, we have never turned anyone in need away.

We also publish articles that feature community programs in need of donations and volunteers. We encourage both residents and visitors to volunteer and donate to existing community programs.

The Cozumel Sun sponsors several Local families on an ongoing basis. Over the past years we set up a few start-up businesses. The goal is to train and assist some families to become self-sufficient. For years we ran an ongoing garage sale as a means of raising funds. Consequently, we need your support.

TCS has successfuly matched those that want to help and those in need for many years.

Our Community Store

Papeleria y Novedades Mama Lilly was started by the Cozumel Sun. This community store is now 100% operated by the Martínez family. The Papeleria sells office and school supplies. You will also find Avon, Gifts, and Novelty items. In addition, they offer internet, FAX, and telephone access. Services include Copying, Printing, Lamination, and Book Binding.

The Cozumel Sun functions ON DONATIONS ONLY. Please lend your support. Help us continue to serve the people of Cozumel.

During the Pandemic, our resources have been extended to the Community Kitchens that are feeding hundreds in Cozumel.