By Francisco Peyret
The Guadalupe-Reyes Marathon is an unofficial festival known to every Mexican. Did you know that its origin has nothing to do with sports, but with the Mexico City police? It is an eating and drinking marathon during the 26 days of festivities that start on December 12. In 1990, Mexico City’s police initiated an operation called Guadalupe-Reyes, where the objective was to coordinate transit, and provide emergency medical services to protect the pilgrims, who come every year in December to the Basilica of Guadalupe. The capital’s police force decided to start this operation because of the annual visit of some 9.8 million visitors in December. In addition, according to the Confederation of the National Chambers of Commerce, Services and Tourism, during the period that includes the Guadalupe-Reyes Marathon, sales of alcoholic beverages rise 20%.
Instead of associating the marathon with this police project, the people of Mexico City associate it with the parties that run from December 12 until January 6. These naturally include music, a great deal of food, and drinking. At present, the general population views the Guadalupe-Reyes Marathon as a challenge to be faced as best one can. Some advocate extending this custom from December 12 to Candlemas on February 2, and then start dieting. Many magazines and opinion leaders have suggested rules and tips to bring this national challenge to a successful conclusion. For example, in the 2019 comedy film “Guadalupe-Reyes,” directed by Salvador Espinosa, one must consume a minimum of eight alcoholic drinks or 12 beers daily during the marathon.
According to the digital magazine “Aderezo,” typical dishes that encourage drinking on December 12 are tamales, atole, and pozole. From December 16-24, the posadas (processions) are held. That is a total of no less than nine parties—if you attend one daily. Dishes include Mexican appetizers such as sopes, pambazos, tacos, and spiced punch. And of course, there are piñatas. Once broken, all the sweets are eaten. On Christmas eve, typical dishes at dinner are turkey accompanied by a lot of wine. On December 31, dinner is often pork loin or cod a la Vizcaina. The Rosca de Reyes is served on January 6, Three Kings Day.
“Animal Gourmet” magazine offers a few essential tips for surviving this tough period of overeating:
1. Buy alcohol in advance. Arm yourself with what you want to drink to save money.
2. Build your hangover survival kit. Purchase aspirin, have chelas at the ready, as well as chilito piquín, chamoy, tomato juice, and all the ingredients for preparing strong micheladas, which counter the ravages of a night of drinking.
Poleth Aguayo, an expert in Neuro-Linguistic Programming and a member of the Mexican Diabetes Association, offers some recommendations during the Guadalupe-Reyes marathon. Do not undertake prolonged fasting or skip meals, because at dinner time you will want to devour everything that is put in front of you. Avoid snacking between meals. If you are going to drink, do not mix your drink with juice, soft drinks, or energy drinks, because you will be ingesting double or triple the calories. Do not drink in excess.
Here are “Chilango Magazine’s” tongue-in-cheek Ten Commandments for surviving the Guadalupe-Reyes Marathon.
1. Recharge your batteries, and prepare—take naps, buy vitamins, and enter into a calm mental state. Remember, this lasts 26 days.
2. Get organized, keep in mind that this is the only time of the year that you can justify daily drunkenness.
3. Don’t overspend.
4. Don’t drink and drive; set aside about 200 pesos for taxi rides home.
5. Stay responsible—don’t fall asleep at work, avoid having your salary docked or being dismissed from work altogether.
6. Have your favorite munchies handy to help get rid of your hangover.
7. Dedicate time to your family and your spouse or partner. You don’t want to jeopardize any Christmas present they might be planning to give you.
8. Take it nice and easy. Don’t finish everything at the wine bar on the first day. Not only would this cause a considerable loss in your portfolio, but would bring about a hangover of biblical magnitude.
9. Hydrate… mineral water in whiskey doesn’t count.
10. Save the gym promo coupon.
Happy Holidays and good luck!
