What Are Mexican Blankets and Are They Really A Sign of Winter?

Groundhogs are used to predict if Spring will come late but in the Winter there's one item that can be used to signal colder weather and the holiday season. That's Mexican blankets.

Now these blankets are not to be confused with the serapes that are usually those blankets of various different colors that are festive but instead these blankets are cozy and big. The Mexican blankets, or San Marcos blankets, are these big blankets that are usually very fluffy and have some sort of design on them like an animals, flowers, or La Virgen de Guadalupe.

@sergioandcarol So flad we’ll be in the 40s degree #TexasColdfront #MexicanBlankets #HoustonWeather #Marriage #Humor #screammovie #VozDosCriadores ♬ original sound - Sergio Ochaeta

These blankets have a rich history as they became popular in the 1970's when Jesus Rivera Franco from Aguascalientes, Mexico traveled to Spain and got the idea from blankets there. Franco then tried to reproduce the blankets but with Mexican flare which led to a big success for the next 30 years. Those blankets then became so popular that some companies in Asia began to make knock offs of the San Marcos blankets which is what led to their downfall. Eventually the San Marcos company went out of business in 2004 since they couldn't keep up with the cheap knockoffs.

These blankets are a staple for all Latino households as most are usually passed down or are cherished items from when families would come to the U.S. and be one of the few things they brought with them. These blankets can be compared to a warm hug from your abuelita along with a nice warm empanada or chapurrado, just warm and cozy. So yes these blankets are a sign of Winter and cold weather and have a very extensive history across most Latino households.

Holiday Traditions in Most Mexican & Mexican-American Households

Gallery Credit: Mikael Donnovan

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