Mastodons, mammoths and gigantic bird-like lizards — some of the world’s most impressive prehistoric species once roamed our country. To honor their impact and legacy in our present-day megabiodiversity, here’s our list of the most remarkable dinosaur species to roam Mexico for millions of years.

Where the dinosaurs were

The northern region of the country has seen abundant paleontological discoveries. Many species of “dire lizards,” as described by Gaceta UNAM, roamed throughout what is now Coahuila, a paleontological mecca due to its abundance of fossils. However, the northern states of Baja California, Sonora, Nuevo León and Chihuahua have also been of academic interest to paleontologists worldwide.

But while northern Mexico stands out from the rest of the country for its rich prehistoric fossil sites, central states like Michoacán and Puebla have also recorded significant discoveries, as documented by the Autonomous University of Aguascalientes. Further south, dinosaur remains have been found in the present-day region of Oaxaca and even along the coast of Guerrero.

It’s worth noting that these super-cool dinosaur species not only lived in the territory that now belongs to Mexico, but also often inhabited other parts of North America and possibly extended south of Mexico and further into the continent.

On a side note, during excavations for the Felipe Ángeles International Airport, workers unearthed a series of perfectly preserved mammoths. It was a find heralded by major media outlets around the world. Dubbed “Tierra de Gigantes” — the Land of Giants — this is the largest mammoth site in the world recorded to date. Due to the great number of well-preserved remains, the government even built an impressive site museum to display them.

It’s worth noting that prehistoric mammals such as mammoths are not considered dinosaurs. But Mexico does have an exceptional collection of fossil remains of ancient reptiles, unlike any other in the world.

So, which dinosaurs inhabited prehistoric Mexico?

Using the paleontological remains of both animals and plants, we can trace back in time what the current territory we now call Mexico was like (in biological terms, at least) in the age of the dinosaurs. Here’s a look at which dinosaurs have been found by paleontologists to have lived in Mexico in prehistoric times.

Quetzalcóatlus

This ginormous prehistoric lizard-bird inherited the name of our beloved feathered serpent god, Quetzalcóatl, the Lord of the Skies and the Wind. With a wingspan at times estimated at up to 16 meters, this was an azhdarchid pterosaur from the Late Cretaceous that lived on the North American continent about 66 million years ago, in the northern state of Coahuila. With a super sharp beak and stiff necks, these prehistoric animals are thought to have measured up to 10 meters tall.

Think of it as an enormous and very ancient vulture. As it fed mainly on carcasses of other smaller animals and soared over prehistoric Mexico’s skies, I can’t think of a better description for it. Given the impressive size of their vertebrae, some paleontologists dismiss this possibility, thinking instead that they caught their prey in mid-flight.

Megapnosaurus

Also known as “the great lethal lizard,” these prehistoric lizards are among the oldest deadly predators found in North America. This species inhabited the continent 200 million years ago, and was characterized as a small and agile predator (compared to its gigantic congeners, that is), only 3 meters long.

Based on the paleontological sites found, it is thought that these animals lived in herds, teaming up with their family members to hunt and feed. Impressively enough, these ancient lizards figure among the dinosaurs with feathers!

Gorgosaurus

Gorgosaurus, a distant relative of Tyrannosaurus rex, is among the apex predators of the large American lizards. It is known to have eaten big lizards and ancient birds, as well as large herbivores. They were so large that very young specimens found weighed over 330 kilograms. On average, according to Royal Tyrrell Museum (Canada) specialists, that is only 13% of the body mass of an adult specimen.

Reaching 8 meters in length at adulthood, this species is estimated to have been able to run up to 40 kilometers per hour. Based on remains found in the states of Baja California, Sonora and some areas of Coahuila, it is believed to be the largest carnivore discovered in Mexico.

Kritosaurus

The Kritosaurus belonged to a family of hadrosaurid dinosaurs that roamed in present-day Mexico during the Cretaceous period, approximately 73 million years ago. This herbivore, about 10 meters long and weighing four tons, is currently known for its spectacularly ornate skulls. So, yeah, they basically had prehistoric mohawks.

Besides their distinctive “hairstyle,” these giant lizards could be as big as a school bus. Based on the shape of the jaw, researchers think it had some kind of organ to communicate with their family members. As if that weren’t enough, it had a sharp beak, which helped it to uproot plants, which it then processed with a complex chewing apparatus capable of crushing the fibrous vegetation of the time.

Andrea Fischer contributes to the features desk at Mexico News Daily. She has edited and written for National Geographic en Español and Muy Interesante México, and continues to be an advocate for anything that screams science. Or yoga. Or both.

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Recent historiographical research by the Royal Academy of History, in Spain, has traced her profile back to the archives of Conquest documents, in which she is referred to as Isabel Moctezuma: the last Mexica princess who, despite having direct noble blood, was stripped of her power, her land and her identity upon being baptized in the Christian rite.

Doña Isabel Moctezuma Tecuichpo Ixquixóchitl: the empire’s ‘Cotton Flower’

Tecuichpo Ixcaxochitzin was her original name. According to the UNAM’s Institute of Historical Research, the Náhuatl name translates to “Divine Lady” and “Cotton Flower,” respectively. The —tzin suffix was an extremely reverential way of referring to the royal family — and even goddesses and gods. However, as part of the scorching process of Conquest, this record lost its validity in the territory that was once under Mexica rule. Although her birth name was changed to Isabel Moctezuma, this political figure has been revisited in film, theater and various historical novels.

She was the daughter of Moctezuma II and Empress Consort Teotlacho. For this reason, she was a powerful and respected woman from birth, around 1509. Among her descendants, it is known that Moctezuma Xocoyotzin had a particular fondness for his daughter Tecuichpo. While the city-state was free, they built a strong father-daughter relationship. Given that she was born to such influential figures, in the highest rank of the Mexica royalty, some authors consider her the last empress of Mexico-Tenochtitlán.

A change of sides

The imperial capital was under siege. When Moctezuma II was taken prisoner by the Spanish, Tecuichpo Ixcaxochitzin was the only one who visited him at Cortés’s headquarters.

After nights of torture, the emperor was very weak. He asked the Spanish general to take care of his three daughters, because the Mexica reign had come to an end. If he didn’t leave them in the care of the new rulers, a grim future awaited them. Cortés kept his word, and to protect them, he changed their names to Christian ones.

Now known as Isabel Moctezuma, she was a woman of many men. Ancient codices suggest she was married five times — twice to Mexica emperors and thrice to Spanish generals — and even had a bastard daughter with the invader Hernán Cortés, whom she refused to recognize as her own kin. So yes, harsh, but Doña Isabel Moctezuma knew what she wanted in life

Thus, a new chapter began in her life. Instead of being a lady among Mexica royalty, Tecuichpo assumed the identity of Isabel Moctezuma, in honor of her deceased father. She even took the name of the ruler of Castile across the sea. With the blessing of the colonizing priests, she completed the process of Catholic baptism and secured a few years of peace as a new member of the ruling group.

Her best man was Cortés himself. This was the first marriage recognized by the Spanish. However, before the invasion, she had already been married to Cuitláhuac, the lord of Iztapalapa. After the death of her first husband, the Spanish administrators cared little for her widowhood and arranged another political union with Cuauhtémoc, the last Mexica tlatoani (ruler).

Feathers and precious stones

Cuauhtémoc was accused of treason. Without further ado, the Spanish soldiers executed him in cold blood, after a night of torture. Thus, Isabel Moctezuma was widowed once again. A few months later, Cortés arranged her third marriage with one of his trusted representatives. By then, in 1528, Tecuichpo Ixquixóchitl had become pregnant with his daughter.

Although Cortés did recognize the child, for the former Mexica ruler, the birth of her first daughter always represented an inner conflict. They named her Leonor, and she adopted her biological father’s surname. Although they were in close contact, they lived in different places. While the general managed his conquests from his villa in Coyoacán, Leonor lived with her mother in the perpetual encomienda of Tlacopan.

Daughter of Cortés

Although she shared a home with her mother’s husband, the explorer Alonso de Grado, she never acknowledged him as her father. On the contrary, the young girl was very clear that she was Cortés’s daughter, and understood the social standing that this guaranteed her. At the same time, Tecuichpo Ixquixóchitl retained the respect of her former Mexica subjects, now subjugated by the Spanish armed forces.

Thus, until the end of her days, she earned the respect of the Spaniards for her skill in navigating their circles of power. Shortly after turning 40, however, the former Mexica leader died at her estate in Tlacopan. She was buried according to the traditions of her people, with precious stones and feathers crafted in Coyoacán. In her will, she granted freedom to the Mexica slaves who worked her land and allocated one-fifth of all her wealth to pay off the debts of her servants.

Andrea Fischer contributes to the features desk at Mexico News Daily. She has edited and written for National Geographic en Español and Muy Interesante México, and continues to be an advocate for anything that screams science. Or yoga. Or both.

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If you live in a bi-cultural home, or have Mexican extended family and friends, you’ll have no choice: if they invite you over for dinner, recalentado will be a part of your life for quite a time this January.

Between the rush and the pending tasks that the end-of-year festivities left behind, it seems that this Mexican tradition is a great way to deal with the start of a new year. There are, however, some security and nutritional measures to keep in mind. Here’s what to know.

What on Earth is recalentado, anyway?

We, Mexicans, have serious attachment issues with our food. Especially the leftovers. That’s why the recalentado season lasts so long. It’s even longer than the dreaded Guadalupe-Reyes, the horrible tradition of getting drunk every day from Dec. 12, the Day of Our Lady of Guadalupe, to Jan. 6, the Day of the Three Wise Men (Día de Reyes). Believe it or not, Mexicans eat Christmas leftovers even past the January festivities.

Although the fridge is stuffed with recalentado Tupperware — and it often is kind of stinky by now — Mexican families find it impossible to simply throw everything away. Abuelas and aunties still find extraordinary excuses to prepare turkey tortas with a romeritos topping. Is this safe to consume?

Holiday leftover protocols

In an interview with Mexico News Daily, nutritionist Ana Teresa Copca explained, “Leftovers can be enjoyed safely for approximately 3 to 4 days after preparation.” Any dish should be safe to consume if refrigerated after cooling, “as long as the food has been stored properly,” she added. To securely store food after serving, she suggests a simple protocol:

Do not leave the food at room temperature beyond 2 hours after serving, as this “prevents bacteria from multiplying.”

Store in airtight containers and divide into small portions.

When reheating food, make sure it is piping hot, not just lukewarm.

If a strange odor, color or texture appears, do not consume it.

Although she acknowledges the cultural value recalentado has during the holidays in Mexico as a way to “prolong that festive atmosphere at home a little longer,” the nutritional aspect of proper eating should always be taken into account. Copca, however, is not an advocate of categorizing “foods as ‘healthy’ or ‘unhealthy.’” Consumers should “focus on the nutritional value of each dish.” If your recalentado was homemade “with fresh, balanced ingredients,” she said, “its nutritional value isn’t lost simply by reheating them.” In some cases, science shows “that some foods develop a better flavor the next day.”

Do we really need to get rid of the Christmas leftovers?

Beyond the holidays, Copca considers recalentado to be “a very useful practice in everyday life,” as it contributes to proper meal planning throughout the year. In countries like Mexico, in which food has a fundamental cultural and sentimental value, these practices foster “togetherness, family history and even nostalgia,” she noted.

​​So, although kids — and basically anyone — can get tired of eating exactly the same thing throughout the holidays, it seems it’s not a bad idea at all! Amidst the hustle and bustle of the holidays (and the lethargy that follows), the practice of reheating food could bring us some calm this post-holiday season. Mainly because you don’t have to worry about preparing something to eat or thinking about ordering anything: the food is already ready to be reheated — if we observe the safety measures, of course.

In addition to the safety recommendations, which we can never stop emphasizing, the specialist suggests avoiding guilt during this time of the year, as seasonal dishes are “also part of our culture and a way to connect with others.” 

Not only that. Being mindful about what we eat is also a way to connect with our own bodies, “their cravings and satiety.” In her own clinical experience, “food is more than just nutrients: It’s memory, tradition, love and presence.” 

So — just how long will the recalentado last? Until the plastic containers in the fridge are empty, according to honorable Mexican tradition.

Andrea Fischer contributes to the features desk at Mexico News Daily. She has edited and written for National Geographic en Español and Muy Interesante México, and continues to be an advocate for anything that screams science. Or yoga. Or both.

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Like the rest of the region, the capital is subject to the seismic activity of our majestic volcanoes, Popocatépetl and Iztaccíhuatl. Although at this time of year the pair gives us magnificent views of their snow-covered faces , it is also true that they are some of the most active volcanoes in the world — hence, we get pretty strong earthquakes! If the editors will allow me a superstitious note, it’s best to offer a prayer to the One Who Moves the Earth when we are surprised by tremors like yesterday’s! Here’s everything you need to know.

The mountain-heart guardian of the Valley of Mexico

Tepeyóllotl is the Mexica god of earthquakes and seismic activity. His name translates from ancient Náhuatl as ‘Heart of the Mountain’, and was commonly represented as a jaguar who inhabited mountains. It was said that his roar caused deadly earthquakes, a common occurrence even in pre-Columbian times in present-day Mexico. However, he was also associated with echoes and the night, as this feline is a silent night hunter.

As was common in Mexica mythology, the gods had ‘avatars’ — or manifestations — who served specific purposes. For example, Quetzalcóatl was frequently represented as Ehécatl, the venerable lord of the wind.

Ancient Mexica priests honored Tepeyóllotl as a manifestation of the powerful Tezcatlipoca, one of the most venerated gods in the Mexica Empire. In their world vision, “his presence was omnipresent, embodying the duality of life and death”, as described by UNAM’s Institute of Historical Research. 

Tepeyóllotl mirrors Tezcatlipoca’s dark and nocturnal nature, often depicted as “the Sun descending to the realm of the deceased.” As much as he was feared as a liminal deity, who bestowed life and death upon the inhabitants of México-Tenochtitlan, he was also revered as the “empty space” in the Cosmos. No wonder several offerings to him have been found in the Templo Mayor site.

Tepeyóllotl, the great Lord of Earthquakes

Tepeyóllotl inherited the destructive power of Tezcatlipoca. As unpredictable as earthquakes are, it was known that Tepeyóllotl was capricious and erratic. Just as he inherited Tezcatlipoca’s destructive power, like all good cats, he also had a fickle character, which kept the inhabitants of the imperial capital on their toes. Nobody knew when he might attack: whether in the middle of the night, as jaguars usually do, or in broad daylight. So yes, he was a moody one, wasn’t he?

Considering the above, there is evidence that the ancient Mexicas built their civil and residential buildings taking into account the intense seismic activity inherent to their territory, according to the UNAM’s Institute of Engineering. To prevent landslides and collapses, they modified the course of some of their rivers and secured the flourishing city with quite effective urban engineering — so much so that it allowed them to live for centuries on a lake.

Although he appears to have been a widely venerated deity in Mexico-Tenochtitlan, as anthropologist Luz María Guerrero wrote for Estudios de la Cultura Náhuatl magazine, few records survive of the jaguar god of echoes and earthquakes. The oldest representations date from the 16th century — long after the fall of the great imperial capital.

From the few accounts we have, we know that Tepeyóllotl was depicted with stars for eyes, his characteristic jaguar attire and bandages covering his face. Sometimes, he is shown with a beard, a necklace of rattles and an obsidian mirror on his temple, similar to Tezcatlipoca. Iconographically, his fierce and destructive nature is suggested by a series of knives hanging from his body.

He was repeatedly described like this in the Codex Telleriano-Remensis and the Vatican-Latin Codex, and for his thunderous roar, “that echoed in the mountains” and was “a sign of bad luck that preceded death, misery and disease.” Given his humongous destructive power, no wonder we get terrifying earthquakes in the Basin of Mexico!

Andrea Fischer contributes to the features desk at Mexico News Daily. She has edited and written for National Geographic en Español and Muy Interesante México, and continues to be an advocate for anything that screams science. Or yoga. Or both.

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Electro MegaRAVE 2026

The Mexico City government revealed that the Ángel de la Independencia will be transformed into a giant dance floor to celebrate the arrival of the new year. Mexico City Mayor Clara Brugada recently confirmed that 2026 will start with a massive electronic music party. The rave is expected to begin on the evening of Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025, and end in the early hours of Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026. A monumental dance floor will be set up at the foot of the Angel of Independence and along Paseo de la Reforma, with lights, dancers, lasers and one of the best sound systems in the country.

Dates: From Dec. 31, 2025, to Jan. 1, 2026

Location: Avenida Paseo de la Reforma, centered at the Ángel de la Independencia monument

Cost: Free admittance

Light Cycles 2026

Light Cycles arrives in Mexico City with a wonderful tour through Chapultepec Forest. This January 2026 will be your last chance to experience this immersive adventure, which begins in Rosario Castellanos Park and extends to the capital’s largest park. Featuring five light and sound installations, this nighttime tour unveils “a sanctuary that celebrates the beauty of nature through cutting-edge technology,” as described by event organizers. Sounds like the perfect winter plan, especially with the cold weather, right?

Dates: All January long!

Location: Parque Rosario Castellanos, Chapultepec Forest, 2nd Section; entry through the Calzada Flotante accessible via the Jardín Escénico Chapultepec

Cost: Tickets starting at 295 pesos for adults. Get yours here!

Stranger Things: The Experience

Netflix and Blast Entertainment teamed up to create this immersive experience, where visitors become scientists at Hawkins Lab, the terrifying setting for the most macabre events of Stranger Things. With the fifth season just released, the hype is at its peak. Visitors can unleash their psychic powers, like Eleven and Kali, in immersive rooms themed around the 1980s. There will also be exclusive merchandise, as well as photo opportunities with Demogorgons and other characters from the series.

Dates: All January long!

Location: Expo. Reforma, Avenida Morelos 67, Juárez, Cuauhtémoc

Cost: Tickets starting at 616 pesos. Get yours here!

Rosca de Reyes Fest 2026

It’s Rosca de Reyes season, just in time for Día de Reyes festivities in Mexico City. Finally! And the Rosca de Reyes Fest organizers know it. This gastronomic has everything that we, pan de muerto lovers, need, from chocolate-stuffed rosca to vegan and keto options. All ingredients are produced locally, as tradition dictates for these bread-themed culinary festivals. No Rosca de Reyes experience is complete without café de olla and hot Mexican cocoa, which will be available on site, of course.

Dates: Jan. 3-4, from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Location: Huerto Roma Verde, Jalapa 234, Roma Norte, Cuauhtémoc

Cost: Free of charge

‘Soft Math’ (Cloud in The Eyes) exhibit at Lago Algo

New York-based artist Jonah Freeman arrives in Mexico City with his first solo exhibition in Latin America, Soft Math (Cloud in the Eyes). Organized by Lago Algo gallery, it showcases his “experimental narrative, material abstraction and cinematic logic to explore the hidden infrastructures of contemporary life,” as described by the curatorial team. Several drone-captured, abstract images flood the gallery, as a way to portray how “human-made machines that observe equally human-made environments.”

Dates: Running until Jan. 4

Location: Lago Algo, Bosque de Chapultepec, Pista El Sope S/N, Miguel Hidalgo

Cost: Free of charge

Watch Mr. Gwyn at Teatro Helénico

 

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At the height of his career, fictional author Jasper Gwyn decides to disappear from the literary world. In the midst of a terrible midlife crisis, he decides to invent a new profession for himself: portraying people with words, capturing their soul rather than their appearances. Each session becomes an act of emotional revelation. As described by the Teatro Helénico team: “A profound gaze that transforms both the model and Gwyn himself.” Adapted by Mexican playwright Juan Cabello, this is a story about art, identity and intimacy directed by renowned Alonso Iñiguez.

Dates: Running from Jan. 15 to Feb. 15.

Location: Av. Revolución 1500, Guadalupe Inn, Álvaro Obregón

Cost: Tickets starting at 410 pesos

Indie Fest 2026

 

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Remember the cool, alternative guy you dated last year? He probably already has tickets for the Indie Fest 2026. Highlighting Mexican independent music with emerging and established artists, the festival is expected to grow as a platform for the local scene, with calls for Mexican rock, pop and electro local bands. If you’re really into delving into the newest and quirkiest music, this is your plan to kickstart the year, as underground artists like Oralia will be performing.

Dates: Jan. 18 and 25.

Location: Donceles 12, Centro Histórico, Cuauhtémoc

Cost: Tickets starting at 100 pesos. Buy yours here!

Bazar Resiliente

Independent Mexican creators make a line to be a part of Bazar Resiliente, one of the most iconic creative gatherings of the year. The best of local ceramists, fashion designers, eco-friendly makeup brands and graphic talent in Mexico City get to showcase their latest production. No CDMX It Girl should miss it, honestly! Moreover, on Jan. 24, Colonia Roma’s Centro Gallego will host Workshop Resiliente, a series of entrepreneurship talks in which eight speakers will share their experiences as independent creators.

Dates: Jan. 24-25.

Location: Centro Gallego, Colima 194, Roma Norte, Cuauhtémoc

Cost: Free of charge. Workshop entry fee starts at 850 pesos.

Visit ‘Fijar el Tiempo,’ the latest Graciela Iturbide exhibition

Last year, after decades of photographic production, Mexican photographer Graciela Iturbide was awarded the 2025 Princess of Asturias Award for the Arts. Honoring this major achievement in her career (and her 83rd birthday!), Fomento Cultural Bamanex curated a fantastic selection of self-portraits by the artist. The exhibition starts with endearing pictures of her wedding (the only piece in color, as the others were taken in black and white), and recreates her photographic work throughout her career. Everything from her earliest works for the National Indigenous Institute to her emblematic series in Juchitán, Oaxaca. This is a January must in Mexico City.

Dates: From Nov. 28, 2025, to Feb. 8, 2026

Location: Fomento Cultural Banamex, Francisco I. Madero 17, Centro Histórico, Cuauhtémoc  

Cost: Free of charge

Velasco’s Garden

Featuring 2,500 previously unseen pieces from the José María Velasco Collection, the Kaluz Museum presents a journey through the artist’s paintings, notebooks, sketches, letters, manuscripts, books and personal belongings. The exhibition is both intimate and scholarly, encompassing pieces that reflect “his naturalist, scientific and artistic side, as well as his private life,” said curators in a statement. As an avid observer of the Valley of Mexico in the 19th century, the painter found in nature a space for study and contemplation that “contributed to shaping a mineral, zoological, botanical and archaeological vision” of the country at that time.

Dates: From Oct. 26, 2025, to May 25, 2026

Location: Fomento Cultural Banamex, Francisco I. Madero 17, Centro Histórico, Cuauhtémoc

Cost: Free of charge

Andrea Fischer is an editor for Mexico News Daily. She has edited and written for National Geographic en Español and Muy Interesante México, and continues to advocate for anything that screams science. Or yoga. Or both.

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However! There was a time when, in an effort to purge Mexico of the “capitalist traditions of the United States,” the Mexican government tried to replace Santa Claus — the terrible symbol of unfettered capitalism — with our beloved feathered serpent. How on Earth did that happen, you may ask? Here’s a rather unorthodox Christmas carol. Mexican style, for your delight.

Did Quetzalcóatl ever celebrate Christmas?

The easy answer is no, not exactly. However, the winter solstice has been regarded as a holy moment across millennia in several ancient civilizations. The Romans, for example, celebrated Saturnalia, the annual festival to celebrate “the rebirth” of the year, during the winter solstice in the Julian calendar. Romans held raging parties with bacchanals, honoring Saturn, the God of Time and Harvest. Curiously enough, it was celebrated on Dec. 25.

Believe it or not, this Roman (and pagan) celebration has more to do with the Christian Christmas than Jesus himself. “The choice of December 25 as the date of Jesus’ birth has nothing to do with the Bible,” researcher Diarmaid MacCulloch, professor of Church history at Oxford University, explained to the BBC, “but was a rather conscious and explicit choice to use the winter solstice to symbolize Christ’s role as the light of the world.”

In this part of the world, the Mexica Empire also celebrated the winter solstice. However, they honored the birth of Huitzilopochtli, the God of War, who was also the solar deity of the Mexica pantheon. So yes, indeed, a “new coming of the light” was celebrated in pre-Columbian times, as documented by the Autonomous University of the State of Hidalgo researchers. Culturally referred to as Panquetzaliztli, this festival commemorated the god’s birth and the triumph of light over darkness.

Priests, artisans and civilians alike participated in ritual battles, processions and the distribution of an idol made of corn dough (tzoalli). So yes, the Mexica Empire did host an annual celebration for the birth of their solar deity. It was not Jesus, of course, and it was not Quetzalcóatl, either — however enthusiastic PRI politicians were about it.

Quetzalcóatl, the great Lord of… Christmas?

So, no. Quetzalcóatl has nothing to do with Christmas. At all. For centuries, he was venerated in the Mexica Empire as “the great blower that energizes the cosmos,” as documented by UNAM researchers. He was also considered the creator and destroyer of “the great cosmic eras,” which positioned him in “a fundamental role in the founding myths of this pre-Hispanic culture.” The sacred feathered serpent was often depicted as the Lord of the Winds in the form of Ehécatl as well.

Given the importance Quetzalcóatl had in the pre-Columbian worldview in present-day Mexico, some PRI politicians in the 20th century decided it was a great idea to consolidate national identity through these ancient deities. In their minds, nothing screams Mexico like Quetzalcóatl on Christmas Eve (what?).

It was 1930. The Minister of Public Education, Carlos Trejo y Lerdo de Tejada, agreed with former President Pascual Ortiz Rubio that it would be convenient to replace Santa Claus with Quetzalcóatl. “The idea was for a Mexican figure to instill in boys and girls a love for their race and culture,” according to Gaceta UNAM magazine. On Christmas Eve, you may ask? Yes. Exactly on Christmas Eve, the day on which all Christians across the world celebrate baby Jesus’ birth, Mexican children were urged by authorities to write letters to the sacred feathered serpent.

Giving away toys in the name of our Great Lord Quetzalcóatl

On Dec. 23, 1930, the Ministry of Culture organized a historic gift-giving event at Estadio Nacional, located in Colonia Roma. A replica of the temple dedicated to Quetzalcóatl was built for the occasion. That night, former First Lady Josefina Ortiz gave away toys, clothing and candy to children in need — all in the name of Our Great Lord Quetzalcóatl. Who needs Santa Claus, anyway? At the end of the ceremony, the hymn to Quetzalcóatl was sung.

No one liked the Quetzalcóatl-themed Christmas celebration. In a country where 97.7% of the population identified as Catholic (at the time), the event was seen as a sacrilege: “the intervention of a pagan deity in a Catholic celebration,” per Gaceta UNAM. Very few admitted they kind of liked the idea.

In the end, the idea simply didn’t stick, and poor Lord Quetzalcóatl silently returned to the Mexican holy pantheon.

Andrea Fischer contributes to the features desk at Mexico News Daily. She has edited and written for National Geographic en Español and Muy Interesante México, and continues to be an advocate for anything that screams science. Or yoga. Or both.

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Given that 2025 was definitely a year to remember, here’s our digest of the best Mexican saints to pray to before the year ends. Whether you’re looking to restore your health, balance your finances or even to start a new relationship, try these local traditions to make 2026 a homerun.

Virgen de Guadalupe, the ‘Mother of Mexicans’

Heiress to the veneration of Tontantzin, the Mexica Mother Goddess, this icon is one of the most beloved religious figures in Mexico. The Virgin of Guadalupe is depicted as pregnant, with a solemn face and skin pigmented in the same tone as the indigenous populations of the central region of the country.

As a holy maternal figure, people feel like they can confide in the Virgin of Guadalupe with their deepest sorrows and griefs, as anyone would with their mom. If you know you’re having a challenging year ahead of you, place your worries on an altar dedicated to her. You need not offer flowers or anything in particular. People often cry when asking for her guidance. Even my Soviet mother-in-law, who was taught that religion is the opium of the masses, has found solace in doing so.

San Juditas, the patron of lost causes

According to the New Testament of the Bible, Saint Jude Thaddeus was one of the 12 disciples of Jesus. Not the traitor, the other one. Beyond the biblical passage, in Mexico, “San Juditas” is the patron of lost causes. When children have a very hard test — or adults have to deal with a very difficult situation at work — they often pray to this saint to help them solve their challenges with ease.

In Estado de Mexico, in particular, people are deeply devoted to this saint and even host an annual festival in his honor in the state capital, Toluca. If you offer him red roses, fruit, incense and light a candle in his name, as tradition dictates, San Juditas will tend your sorrows and will help you solve your most complex tribulations.

San Antonio de Padua, the provider of husbands

Whenever Mexican women need to get married soon or find a faithful husband, San Antonio de Padua is the saint they turn to. It is said that if you offer 13 coins to the church, or to those in need, and offer a prayer to this icon, you’ll surely get married within a year. When San Antonio de Padua gives deaf ears to his devotees, however, people go to extremes! No, really. Mexican women believe that, if they bury an image or statue of the saint in a flowerpot, or place him upside down on an altar, he will definitely intervene in their quest to find a partner. If you do it on New Year’s Eve, the effects will be everlasting!

Niñopa, the child saint of Xochimilco

Mexico City has preserved some of its Indigenous neighborhoods practically intact for centuries. One of which is the iconic canal-traced neighborhood of Xochimilco. Within the borough’s traditions, kept alive for over 500 years now, is the cult of the Niñopa, a holy representation of baby Jesus.

Also known as Niñopan, the Child of Xochimilco, people come to him to ask for financial aid and serious family-related issues. As a jovial representation of the son of god, local people also ask him for health for themselves and their loved ones. So, if you’re having a hard time with health currently, ask the Niñopa for a new breath of life, offering toys, candy and anything that would make a child happy.

San Pafnucio, the retriever of lost things

San Pafnucio is exactly the kind of saint Mexican grandmas and aunties pray to — but no one else knows they exist. However, as a child, I do remember my mother asking him to help her find anything from lost documents to jewelry. His devotees also seek his guidance whenever they lose their jobs or are having a hard time finding one. Whenever people have to deal with the forced disappearance of a loved one, they also turn to Saint Paphnutius — or some higher power, really — to help them find their relative.

So, if in 2026 you’re looking to find a better job opportunity, or simply need a shortcut to find your keys (again), do not hesitate to ask for San Pafnucio’s help! It will come — eventually.

• Where? Iglesia de Santa Inés. Calle Moneda S/N, Centro Histórico, Cuauhtémoc.

Andrea Fischer contributes to the features desk at Mexico News Daily. She has edited and written for National Geographic en Español and Muy Interesante México, and continues to be an advocate for anything that screams science. Or yoga. Or both.

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Even though we had to get up super early — around 4 a.m. — to avoid the crowds, I remember looking forward to it. Especially because my father always bought gorditas de nata and other seasonal treats for us after Mass.

In honor of that warm childhood memory, here’s our digest of the best Mexican treats to enjoy this holiday season. Although no one can resist a crunchy churro with a nice cup of hot chocolate, these Christmas treats will also make your guests sparkle with joy. Try them all this year!

Buñuelos

Buñuelos are the kind of Mexican Christmas treats that feel like home during the holiday season. Sprinkled with sugar and with an unmissable aroma of cinnamon, you can enjoy these crunchy wonders with honey and a tall glass of milk. Grandmothers and aunties usually give these to children before the gift-giving moment on Christmas Day, just after everybody stops singing the classic posada songs.

Although originally from Egypt and Morocco, as documented by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, this crispy dessert migrated with the Spaniards to colonial Mexico. Today, no Mexican can fathom Christmas without a pile of enormous buñuelos waiting for them at the dinner table. I usually savor the moment with the dear memory of my grandma’s smile.

Borrachitos

Borrachitos, translated as “little drunks,” inherited their name from the touch of liquor with which they’re traditionally prepared in the central state of Puebla. These soft, creamy candies are famous nationwide for their various flavors, ranging from strawberry, pineapple, lime and even rompope.

As is the case with most of Mexico’s traditional candy, these Christmas treats date back to the colonial era, when European flavors encountered ancient Mesoamerican cuisine. Borrachitos were created in convents, where nuns tended to experiment with everything they had at hand. 

Today, you can find them practically anywhere in the Bajío region, so treat your holiday guests with this fine Mexican delicacy. And, yes, children eat them too.

Jamoncillo

Despite what the name suggests, no, jamoncillo has nothing to do with ham. Or meat, whatsoever, in fact. This delicious Mexican sweet with a creamy, smooth texture is associated with the cobblestone streets of San Miguel de Allende and Morelia. An iconic sweet that’s widespread throughout the Bajío region, this delicacy is made from cow’s or goat’s milk — and lots and lots of sugar.

Don’t miss your chance to have jamoncillos this Christmas with café de olla or rice atole, the perfect pairing to counteract their intense sweet flavor.

Gorditas de nata

Gorditas de nata can be found for sale in the atrium of almost any church in Mexico, especially during the Christmas season. Traditionally made with wheat or corn flour, these seasonal treats come in all varieties, both sweet and savory. While savory gorditas are eaten year-round, sweet gorditas are more common during the December festivities, especially gorditas filled with nata.

As a child, I remember that gorditas seemed too dry to eat on their own, so I always ordered champurrado — chocolate-flavored atole — or hot chocolate to go with them. Either made the perfect pairing due to the treat’s subtle tinge of cinnamon.

Christmas apple salad

Although this Mexican holiday adaptation of Waldorf salad originated in New York, Mexicans cannot conceive of Christmas dinner without our ensalada de manzana. 

The original Waldorf salad recipe includes nuts and celery, but Mexicans added raisins, cherries, peach, pineapple or melon and replaced the mayonnaise with sweetened condensed milk. Just delicious!

Besides being incredibly easy to prepare, this holiday dish works well as both an appetizer and dessert in Christmas dinners. It’s that versatile — and everyone loves it.

Andrea Fischer contributes to the features desk at Mexico News Daily. She has edited and written for National Geographic en Español and Muy Interesante México, and continues to be an advocate for anything that screams science. Or yoga. Or both.

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Throughout these sacred days, the Mexica gathered around their temples to await the arrival of the winter solstice. Toward the end of the festivities, families shared lavish dinners in their homes and molded corn figurines in honor of the god of war. 

The festivals honoring Huitzilopochtli served as a template for Catholic priests to impose their own December festivities on the Mexica during the colonial period. They either combined or replaced the Mexica Empire’s existing traditions with those used in Europe. 

Incredibly, this violent evangelization gave rise to the piñata.

What are the piñata’s origins?

When the Spanish invaded Mexica territory, one of the Catholic December traditions the friars imposed, according to the Mexican Agricultural and Fisheries Information Ministry, was the Aguinaldo Masses — a series of nine consecutive masses in anticipation of Christmas that later became the posadas, which still exist today.

During these Aguinaldo Masses, the friars introduced the use of the piñata, which existed in Spain but was also similar to an existing Mexica ceremony to celebrate Huitzilopochtli. Originally, the piñata was made entirely of clay. A common pot was covered with colorful tissue paper, which represented superfluous pleasures. The piñatas were topped with seven conical points, symbolizing the seven deadly sins of the Christian faith: lust, gluttony, envy, pride, greed, wrath and sloth.

After the Christmas Mass, these sins would be destroyed with sticks while the person was blindfolded. When the clay broke, sweets, seasonal fruits and coins would spill out of the piñata as a reward for overcoming earthly temptations. These, in turn, allude to the riches of the kingdom of heaven, which would come to faithful Catholics after death.

How did the piñata originate?

Although Mexico is stereotypically associated with piñatas and sombreros, this traditional element of the end-of-year festivities did not originate here. On the contrary, there is considerable debate about who originally came up with the piñata. Marco Polo’s accounts suggest that he saw them in China during his voyages, suggesting a Chinese origin. However, those same records also refer to the Mongols as monsters and beasts.

Etymologically, the word piñata has Italian roots, originating from the Italian word pignatta, which translates to “fragile pot.” Historian Adrián Murillo documents that, during the Middle Ages, the Spanish used this word to refer to the act of breaking a small pot on the first Sunday of Lent. 

The piñata of this era, however, was not decorated with colors, nor did it have its classic conical points.

The piñata-breaking ritual still works today as follows: Everyone at the posada forms a circle around it. The children take turns hitting it with a stick, while the others sing in unison to cheer them on. Sometimes, the child is blindfolded to make the piñata harder to hit. The blindfold is said to represent the Catholic faith, while the stick alludes to the power of God. When the song ends, it’s someone else’s turn.

Colonial evolution

According to Mexico’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the colonial version of the song went like this: “I don’t want gold / Nor do I want silver / What I want is to break the piñata.” Today, however, this song is no longer in use.

Contemporary posadas still center around breaking a piñata. And while Mexicans today do buy papier-mâché piñatas for children’s parties, those piñatas are generally shaped like animals or cartoon characters. These days, piñatas with the seven spikes are only seen in December. 

Although the original piñatas were clay pots, it’s increasingly rare to see clay piñatas at posadas, for a very modern reason: It’s safer to break a papier-mâché structure than a clay one, which for centuries has injured more than one unsuspecting person.

Perhaps, from the unearthly realm of Teteocan, Huitzilopochtli smiles ironically, watching people hit a papier-mâché structure, hoping to receive the riches of Christianity’s celestial kingdom. After all, they continue to gather during the sacred days that, millennia ago, were dedicated to worshipping the god of war.

Andrea Fischer contributes to the features desk at Mexico News Daily. She has edited and written for National Geographic en Español and Muy Interesante México, and continues to be an advocate for anything that screams science. Or yoga. Or both.

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As is the case in the Roma area, Mexico City’s Hipódromo neighborhood, carved out of the older La Condesa neighborhood, is one of the inheritors of the Art Deco architectural movement in Mexico City.

Some of the best examples of this design style still stand in Hipódromo, even after withstanding some of the most devastating earthquakes the capital has ever experienced. Here are just a few of the highlights.

Edificio Hipódromo

The Hipódromo neighborhood still follows its original design: a racing track. Yes! Present-day Avenida Ámsterdam saw horses run for first place for over a decade, according to the Museo del Objeto’s (MODO) records.

Founded by the Mexican Jockey Club in 1910 as entertainment for the city’s elite, who preferred more European-style sporting events to the popular bullfighting events, the Hipódromo de la Condesa racetrack only lasted 15 years, ceasing to function in 1925. The area soon became purely residential, with Parque Mexico being built on the racetrack site in 1927 and residential lots popping up for sale around it in the years following.

This new neighborhood within Condesa retained its original name, however,

Hipódromo, now often still referred to by people as Hipódromo Condesa. 

The Hipódromo Building on Avenida México, an apartment building constructed in 1929 as part of the change to a residential neighborhood, remains one of the most beautiful examples of Art Deco architecture in this area, featuring broad windowpanes, cantera stone balconies on the first floor, and a marble lobby.

• Where: Avenida México 87, Hipódromo, Cuauhtémoc.

Edificio Tehuacán

Built in 1937 by Mexican architect Ernesto Ignacio Buenrostro — to whom the neighborhood owes much of its visual identity — Edificio Tehuacán is one of Mexico City’s Art Deco jewels.

This building is probably as old as the neighborhood itself: Originally a 14-story apartment building, its facade features typical Art Deco-style geometric patterns. With its name written on its marquee, its main entrance is framed by two matching stylistic iron lamps of the period. 

Today, Edificio Tehuacán is open to the public as the Hippodrome Hotel, where visitors can enjoy its world-class suites and terraces.

• Where: Avenida México 188, Hipódromo, Cuauhtémoc.

Edificio San Martín

Also built by Ernesto Ignacio Buenrostro, the apartment building Edificio San Martín displays a seemingly perfect symmetry, which particularly stands out when you look at its stunning main entrance. With concrete reliefs and heavy ironwork on its exterior lamps, the original iron canopy still covers the main entrance.

Built in 1931, the building fell into disuse in the 1940s. It underwent extensive renovation and restoration in the modern era, finished in 1999. To date, it remains an apartment building, housing roughly 216 very lucky families.

• Where: Avenida México 167, Hipódromo, Cuauhtémoc.

Plaza Popocatépetl

Also known as “Glorieta Popocatépetl,” this plaza, built in 1927, is located on the northern curve of the old Hipódromo de la Condesa. Although this is not exactly a building, it certainly is one of the emblematic examples of Mexico City’s Art Deco movement. 

Originally designed as a fountain, passersby can enjoy it today as a tiny park, as it has been left dry for over a century, only coming alive with water on special occasions. Delightfully decorated with Talavera mosaics from Puebla, its centerpiece is also a testament to the late Symbolist movement in Mexico.

• Where: Plaza Popocatépetl, Hipódromo, Cuauhtémoc.

Andrea Fischer contributes to the features desk at Mexico News Daily. She has edited and written for National Geographic en Español and Muy Interesante México, and continues to be an advocate for anything that screams science. Or yoga. Or both.

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