Are you staying with us this December? If you would like to add a dash of Mexican color to your home this season or for future festive celebrations, go shopping for textiles, ceramics, whimsical tree ornaments and even Nativity scenes. You might find some great gifts too.

Deck out your dining table with a colorful tablecloth and napkins or a table runner. You can find cotton table linens embroidered with flowers that echo the designs of the dresses worn in the Yucatan and Oaxaca. For more vibrant tones in pink, purple, blue and green, look for table mats from the village of Zinacantan in the mountains of Chiapas. There are colorful handwoven tablecloths from Guadalajara and Puebla and pure white linens with drawn lacework from Aguascalientes. Striking embroidered wall hangings and table runners depicting the nochebuena or poinsettia, a plant that Mexico gave to the world, doves, deer and stars in Otomi designs called tenangos come from Hidalgo.

For more Mexican touches, complete your table with handblown glasses in blue, red or green, beaten copper napkin rings and ceramics. Traditional blue and white Talavera table ware from Puebla is a classic look or choose a design from Tlaquepaque or Tonala in Guadalajara. Metal hanging star lamps in different sizes look beautiful and set the scene.

Pick up a variety of adornments to take home for your Christmas tree. They range from Huichol beaded eggs, miniature glass hearts and piñatas and hand-painted glass spheres to hojalata tin decorations and colorful wooden alebrije figures from Oaxaca, angels, candles and stars made from straw and corn husks and whimsical clay figurines from the Yucatan.

Nacimientos or Nativity scenes in Mexico come in all shapes and sizes and are modelled from clay, either natural or painted, carved from wood, woven from straw or even made from metal. Ceramic Nativity scenes made in Merida feature Yucatecan homes, the shepherds dressed in traditional garb and a tiny hammock instead of a crib. Choose a Mexican nativity scene to set out at home. In Mexico, the figure of baby Jesus is placed in the nacimiento on Christmas Eve.

For Christmas get-togethers with the children and grandchildren, a piñata full of candies will bring back happy memories of the Royal Resorts Kids Club.

And of course, you’ll find great gifts in Mexico to take home, ranging from the edible – coffee, chocolate, honey and vanilla, wine and tequila to silver and jewelry, embroidered blouses, dresses, handwoven silk shawls, leather and hammocks. Watercolors and oil paintings of area landmarks, village scenes, and wildlife, wall hangings, handwoven rugs and cushion covers in many designs will add a touch of color and Mexican warmth to any room.

Where to shop

A trip to Playa del Carmen, Valladolid and Merida to browse the craft shops, galleries and markets will yield a wealth of Mexican treasures for house and home. Happy shopping!