Child Jesus images in Mexico

One tradition unique to Mexico is to dress the image in new clothing each year for presentation at Mass on Candlemas.

[4] Part of the reason for this was that native Mexicans already had traditions of representing deities in painting or sculpture with rites dedicated to that incarnation, including dramatizations.

The tradition of reenacting scenes from the birth of Christ was recognized by Juan de Zumárraga, the first bishop of New Spain who ordered that this practice be widespread for evangelization.

On Christmas Eve, the figure of the Christ child is laid into the Nativity scene in a celebration which is done in the home.

This event is called “put the child to bed.” The figure is carried by one or more of the young women while the rest of the family sings lullabies or other children's and/or Christmas songs.

The dance is accompanies by a pre-Hispanic wind instrument called a “tunkul,” which is similar to the “teponatli” used in other states such as Guerrero and Puebla.

[6] Another Christmas Eve tradition is for children to write letters to the Christ child, typically to ask for things like toys and clothes.

Candlemas (in Spanish, Candelaria), 2 February, marks the end of the Christmas season and nativity scenes generally remain intact in the home until this date.

After the mass, the family returns home to celebrate, typically with tamales, buñuelos, atole and hot chocolate.

[3][7] The tradition recalls that forty days after Jesus's birth, Mary and Joseph took the child to the Temple to present to the priests.

[3][8] Other common and traditional outfits include Santo Niño de Atocha with crosier and seated on a chair, “Niño de las palomas” (Child of the doves) in a white robe with a dove between the hands, as San Francisco with sandals and brown robe, holding an animal, or “Niño de las azucenas” (Child of the lilies) with a white tunic and holding a bunch of lilies.

[8] At the Casa de Cultura Griselda Alvarez in Mexico City, there was an exhibit of twenty four Niños Dios dressed in various ways: as a fisherman, as the Pope, as the Archangel Gabriel, as the Sacred Heart and as the Atocha.

[9] In addition to the veneration of household Niños Dios during the Christmas season, there are a number of Child Jesus images that have year-round devotion.

These Niños Dios often have a special place in the worship by Mexican Catholics, but sometimes they have been the objects of “kidnapping” and disputes.

[10] Traditionally, the image has been petitioned by those seeking release from restrictions or traps, especially financial problems or drug addiction or alcoholism.

To be a “godparent” for this image is a great honor in Xochimilco, with the list extending until 2035 with families waiting fifty years.

The image was found by two evangelists in the rubble of the Hacienda of San Juan de Dios in Tlalpan.

In the 19th century, due to tensions between the Mexican government and the Church, the image was moved to Tacubaya when the convent was secularized.

This originally symbolized the future Passion, but recently it has made this image associated with Santa Muerte, whose devotees visit.

It is considered to be generous in granting miracles and is in a glass case surrounded by toys given by the faithful to favors received.