Snafu Posted December 25, 2015 Report Share Posted December 25, 2015 Driving back from the boat launch on Christmas day, we were stopped in traffic when I looked up and saw "The Devil" staring back at me. Complete with horns and wings. This display is directly outside the door of City Hall in the new median that was just built. People were walking by and not even noticing it. When I started pointing it out, they seemed aghast Directly below the Devil is what appears to be a Padre, but at the Padres feet is a human skull. Can anybody explain this. I'm writing a Letter to the editor of the Guadalajara Reporter. Hopefully, a few of you will also. How could a Devil and Skulls be part of a Nativity display. Sorry, had to came back for this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mostlylost Posted December 25, 2015 Report Share Posted December 25, 2015 The devil will be burned on Dec 31 to "kill" the old year. As to the skull no idea Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fred Habacht Posted December 25, 2015 Report Share Posted December 25, 2015 There is also a hermit with a bullwhip in some displays....the hermit drives out the devil with the whip. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
El Saltos Posted December 25, 2015 Report Share Posted December 25, 2015 It's NOT a "nativity" display. None of the nativity characters are in it. Why would you think it was a "nativity" display? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bdmowers Posted December 26, 2015 Report Share Posted December 26, 2015 The devil, skulls, skeletons are deeply part of Mexico`s culture. They appear alongside Catholic religious symbols in every part of the culture. Kind of all in the family. Put all the cards on the table. The "negative" has less power that way. Why hide death or evil or good? They`re all here in equal measure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cbviajero Posted December 26, 2015 Report Share Posted December 26, 2015 The devil will be burned on Dec 31 to "kill" the old year. As to the skull no idea In my wifes rancho in Guanajuato there is a tradition, it's called burning (El Viejito),it's dressed and stuffed with straw and cohetes,every year it's named after someone in the family,they burned me several years ago..lots of fun! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Berca Posted December 26, 2015 Report Share Posted December 26, 2015 Bdmowers is spot on. Please learn more about Mexican culture before embarrassing yourself writing a letter about this to anyone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bmh Posted December 26, 2015 Report Share Posted December 26, 2015 Skulls are part of life and death and one does not exist without the other snd they appear in a lot of place.There something very healthy and practical about Mexicans wether it is related to living or dying. and padre or saint does not make a nativity scene. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TelsZ4 Posted December 26, 2015 Report Share Posted December 26, 2015 Driving back from the boat launch on Christmas day, we were stopped in traffic when I looked up and saw "The Devil" staring back at me. Complete with horns and wings. This display is directly outside the door of City Hall in the new median that was just built. People were walking by and not even noticing it. When I started pointing it out, they seemed aghast Directly below the Devil is what appears to be a Padre, but at the Padres feet is a human skull. Can anybody explain this. I'm writing a Letter to the editor of the Guadalajara Reporter. Hopefully, a few of you will also. How could a Devil and Skulls be part of a Nativity display. Sorry, had to came back for this. Here we go again... Another gringo who wants to change Mexican culture... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bmh Posted December 26, 2015 Report Share Posted December 26, 2015 By the way did you guys noticed that the devil has a bottle of liquor..wonder if it is Tequila. funny... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slainte39 Posted December 26, 2015 Report Share Posted December 26, 2015 It's NOT a "nativity" display. None of the nativity characters are in it. Why would you think it was a "nativity" display? Exactly. I can't believe anyone would make an issue of it. People were probably aghast that someone would. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dichosalocura Posted December 26, 2015 Report Share Posted December 26, 2015 Yes, Chapala has a Nativity Scene and a really cool and well done one this year. And yes the devil is there watching and observing the birth of Jesus from afar. He is full of doubt and ready at any opportunity to tempt the young Christ child. The bottle of tequila represents temptation. The old man sometimes represents the prophet Isaiah and often times if he standing next to Joseph he represents temptation and doubt once again and always ready to tempt Joseph over whether or not it was truly a virgin birth. Satan and the old man are usually in traditional Mexican nativity scenes. It reminds people of the constant duality of good and evil. If you notice, good as being the birth of Christ is shown as being much greater and grandiose while Satan as being evil is shown as being lesser or weaker in its representation. All the focus is on the Nativity Scene and Satan is just off to the side witnessing it all while he is conjuring up diabolical plans to derail Jesus from his mission. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lcscats Posted December 26, 2015 Report Share Posted December 26, 2015 I have a full size statue of Zapata standing on a skull with a bootle of booze in his other hand in our back yard. Similar theme yes? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xena Posted December 26, 2015 Report Share Posted December 26, 2015 When I first saw a nativity scene here I was fascinated and curious to know the story behind it. When I found out, I loved it. Never occurred to me to be offended and write a letter of outrage -- especially before I had any idea what I was outraged about. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WideSky Posted December 26, 2015 Report Share Posted December 26, 2015 Perhaps they have taken their moniker 'snafu' to heart or perhaps it should be changed to 'tarfu'. Either way "we ain't in Kansas no more Toto." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Floradude Posted December 26, 2015 Report Share Posted December 26, 2015 My best Mexican friend and his wife gave me a green skull for Christmas. They said it was my skull. I also am wondering at the meaning/symbolism of this is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bmh Posted December 26, 2015 Report Share Posted December 26, 2015 Are you Irish? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
More Liana Posted December 26, 2015 Report Share Posted December 26, 2015 Here's a fairly full explanation of the nacimiento (manger or creche) in Mexico. http://mexicocooks.typepad.com/mexico_cooks/2015/12/the-traditional-nacimiento-manger-or-creche-in-mexico.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HarryB Posted December 26, 2015 Report Share Posted December 26, 2015 My best Mexican friend and his wife gave me a green skull for Christmas. They said it was my skull. I also am wondering at the meaning/symbolism of this is. maybe they think you've gone moldy? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snafu Posted December 26, 2015 Author Report Share Posted December 26, 2015 Thank you More Liana, that explains it. I’ve lived here for 13 years, never been back to the states, and I’ve never heard of this. I asked many Mexicans yesterday and today, not one of them had heard of it. There has never been a devil in the scene for the last 13 years, this is the first time. I just got back from El Arbol De Café where I talked to the owner about it and he’d never heard of it. Admittedly, things may be different in Ajijic, as I never go there. Anyway this clears it up. Probably made for a good Christmas for a few that were able to rip someone else to make themselves more important. Long live Gringoism. Have a happy New Year everybody. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yo1 Posted December 26, 2015 Report Share Posted December 26, 2015 I'm surprised the Mexicans you spoke with had never seen a devil in a nativity scene. I've seen them everywhere. Perhaps I noticed them more easily because they are out of the ordinary for a gringo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gwynne Posted December 26, 2015 Report Share Posted December 26, 2015 The first year we were here, we put up our antique Nativity Scene as customary. Our Mexican maid saw it and said "Oh Senore, it is not complete." Several days later she brought a small red devil and hid it behind a rock. Still not satisfied, she insisted on some of that moss-like stuff. Finally we were able to pass her inspection. Now, every year she checks to make sure the devil is in his proper place. (But we never seem to have enough "moss" to suit her.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joco Posted December 26, 2015 Report Share Posted December 26, 2015 Devils, Hell and Satan are pagan beliefs, nothing Jesus an Orthodox Jew would have believed, so most of what passes for Christianity is odd anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cedros Posted December 26, 2015 Report Share Posted December 26, 2015 The link More Liana gave doesn't work for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dichosalocura Posted December 26, 2015 Report Share Posted December 26, 2015 For those that haven´t got to see the Chapala Christmas lights and Nativity Scene and also for those that claim there was no Nativity Scene and it was all a diabolical exposition honoring Satan here is a video we made Christmas night. I hope everyone enjoys it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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