Saturday, June 7, 2025

Ornament fairs open in Mexico’s ‘Christmas towns’

If you thought Mexico didn’t have Christmas towns, think again.

In Tlalpujahua and Chignahuapan, the Christmas spirit is present year-round since these two magical towns are Mexico’s top producers of Christmas ornaments. And once again this year, both will host their traditional ornaments fairs to attract shoppers to hundreds of stalls selling hand-blown glass ornaments.

Located in the Sierra Norte of the state of Puebla and a three-hour drive from Mexico City, Chignahuapan is the largest producer of Christmas ornaments in the country. With more than 300 manufacturing shops in town, this industry provides a living to around 80% of the community’s families. It produces around 50 million pieces per year, sold in Mexico and abroad.

Chignahuapan’s ornaments fair starts on Nov. 25 and runs for 10 days in the town’s city center until Dec. 4. Besides the artisanal baubles, people will also be able to buy real pine Christmas trees, hence its name, The Christmas Tree and Ornaments Fair.

Tlalpujahua
Held in the downtowns of these Pueblos Mágicos, the fairs encourage browsing among hundreds of stalls with hand-blown glass ornaments. Sectur Michoacán

The fair will also host cultural, artistic and sporting activities, along with food stalls and other types of seasonal decorations. Half a million visitors are expected to attend.

As for Tlalpujahua, in the state of Michoacán, a two-and-a-half-hour drive from Mexico City, its ornaments fair already started on Sept. 28 and runs until Dec. 18.

With the town’s annual production estimated at 40 million pieces, 70% of Tlalpujahua inhabitants work in the industry. More than half of items produced here are sold internationally to the United States, Canada, Europe and Japan and Malaysia, according to a 2021 Reuters report.

Since the pandemic, many of the stores in Tlalpujahua also now sell online to consumers, with shipping costs ranging from 100 to 200 pesos (US $5-$10).

With reports from Forbes México and El Financiero and MSN Noticias

Have something to say? Paid Subscribers get all access to make & read comments.
Sport fishers cast off the fishing boat Red Rooster III

This US sportfishing boat keeps sneaking into Mexico’s natural protected areas. Mexico is still working on how to respond

7
Mexico’s ability to defend its natural refuges is being put to the test in North America's largest marine protected area.
material on fire

Sheinbaum cancels Guerrero trip after protesters sack headquarters of rival teachers union

0
The president called the vandalism a "provocation" after a three-week strike by the dissident CNTE teachers union escalated into violence in Mexico City and Guerrero.
A young Mexican student wears a harvard sweatshirt

Mexico City teen who developed AI medical app wins Harvard Book Award

1
The recognition is given out by Harvard alumni to high-achieving students from a pool of 2,000 high schools from around the world.