Navidad - Oaxacan style

Christmas is very different here, a very quiet day.  The market in Etla, which is normally packed on Wednesday, was almost empty.  The same for our favorite restaurant, Comedor Colon, which was ours alone for our delicious Christmas meal of mole, both negro y verde, which was out of this world.
Enjoying the tranquility, we headed over to the church in Reyes, the one in Jack Black's "Nacho Libre" just to drink in the warm sun and spectacular views. 

On the way back we noticed there was lots of action at the church in Tres Reyes so we stopped to watch the kids reenact the manger scene. 

It was a joyous event filled with very happy children, proud parents and of course, a band and tons of very loud cohetes, firecrackers.  Not too cute, eh?

I have lots of lots of shots from Noche Buena, but this one was a standout.  She asked the same question I ask every Christmas, "Where's my pony?"

It wasn't a pony, but this abuleo rode by on his trusty burro, checking out the action in Tres Reyes.  I will be back there for Three Kings Day next week for the real deal.