On February 2, Candle Mass Day or Día de La Candelaria as it is known here in Mexico it is the tradition to eat tamales. Hacienda Sisal Restaurant will be celebrating this custom this Sunday offering a selection of these tasty corn dough dumplings from different parts of Mexico in its hearty Sunday Brunch from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Don’t miss the Tamale Fiesta.
Endless Variety of Tamales
Tamales date from pre-Hispanic times and are dumplings made from masa or corn dough and stuffed with shredded chicken, pork, beef, mole, cheese and chili slices or even fruit and honey. The dumplings are then wrapped in banana or palm leaves or corn husks and are steamed or baked. The leaf wrapping and cooking method used varies from region to region. In the Yucatán, tamales are often served with a chilmole tomato sauce.
Why February 2?
The February 2 or Día de La Candelaria tamal tradition is associated with the rosca de reyes or cutting of the Kings Cake on January 6. This sweet dough cake is topped with colorful crystallized fruit and a sugar glaze and contains tiny plastic dolls that symbolize Baby Jesus and the need to hide him from King Herod. According to custom, if when the cake is cut you find a figure in your slice you have to host a dinner or party on February 2, which traditionally features tamales and atole, a corn gruel.
Día de la Candelaria or Candle Mass Day is said to be the day upon which the Christ child was first presented in the temple. In many areas of Mexico, the faithful take the baby from the crib in the Nativity scene they had placed in their home at Christmas to church to be blessed. Others dress a statue of Baby Jesus in traditional garb, place it in a basket or on a plinth decorated in flowers and candles and carry it through the streets to the church where it will remain in a niche for the whole year.
Cancun’s Tamale Fest
It’s also tamale time in Las Palapas Park on February 1 and 2 as Cancún is holding its second Tamale Fest. Local people and visitors will be able to sample tamales from Yucatán, Mexico City and other parts of the country.
