walking around Veracruz in christmas.
December 2025
Each Christmas, this vibrant city takes on a new palette of color. Streets once familiar are transformed into lively corridors of celebration, filled with street food stalls, open-air markets, and the rhythms of danzón and live music echoing through every corner. The result is a distinctive urban soundscape that captures the spirit of the season. The people of Veracruz, known as Jarochos, are famously warm and welcoming, embracing visitors from around the world with genuine kindness. Their hospitality is matched only by the richness of their cuisine, which reflects the city’s deep cultural heritage and irresistible charm.
Piñatas are among the most iconic symbols of the Christmas season throughout Mexico. Impossible to miss, they are a central element of every traditional fiesta. Their seven pointed cones represent the seven deadly sins, and breaking them with a stick is meant to symbolize the cleansing of the soul from temptation. The only indulgence left is the shower of sweets that follows, a joyful reward that no one can resist.
The “Mercado de Artesanías” and the surrounding outdoor street markets at “el Zocalo” square, unfold in a vibrant palette of color, shaped by bustling shelves and stalls brimming with handcrafted souvenirs and local goods. Each item is carefully arranged to catch the visitor’s eye, showcasing a rich diversity of colors, textures, and forms. Vendors display their work with pride and are always eager to help visitors choose the perfect object, something that carries a piece of Veracruz home. I portrayed some of them to capture the spirit, craftsmanship, and human connection that define these markets.
December is weading seaon in The Cathedral of Veracruz. This venue hosts some of the city’s most important weddings, events that are impossible to overlook if you are seated with a lechero on the terrace of Café El Portal or watching from one of the nearby hotels. Brides and grooms wait nervously at the cathedral’s entrance, surrounded by family and loved ones dressed in their finest attire, gathering for one of the most meaningful days of their lives. Those who happen to pass by at just the right moment may find themselves briefly sharing in the joy of a celebration that belongs not only to the couple, but to the city itself.
