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Welcome to the last issue of the Mérida English Library Newsletter in 2025! As we embrace the festive spirit of the season, We are delighted to extend warm holiday greetings to our wonderful community.
December is one of our busiest months, and our calendar is overflowing with opportunities to connect, celebrate, and enjoy the community we’ve built together. It brings with it a multitude of joyful activities at MEL that we hope will add to the magic of this special time of year. Be sure to check out all the events we have lined up—and get ready. We have a very special surprise coming your way, one that will truly make an impact on everyone at MEL.
Please consider that the library will be closed on December 24, 25, 31, and January 1st, and we will not have afternoon hours on Friday December 26 or January 2. You can still return your books through our book return slot located on the lower right side of the entrance door.
The Library Collections Committee (LCC) is always in need of volunteers to bring books to MEL from the US. If you or someone you know is planning a trip to Mérida in December or January and have room in your luggage for one or several books, please send an email to Marianne Kehoe kehoedds@gmail.com. We appreciate your support in this valuable service.
❄It's the most wonderful time of the year! ⛄
The MEL Holiday Bazaar is almost here, and it’s an evening bazaar!
Visit the Mérida English Library on 𝗦𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝗗𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 13𝘁𝗵 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝟱:𝟬𝟬 𝗽𝗺 𝘁𝗼 𝟵:𝟬𝟬 𝗽𝗺! Come and meet the amazing vendors who will have their great work for sale.
🎄Buy your holiday gifts from them!
Find handcrafts, jewelry, clothing, accessories, antiques, decoration, books, plants, and more!Enjoy refreshing drinks from our cash bar as you hang out with other visitors
Even if Yucatán never sees snow, we definitely know how to celebrate the season! Join us for the 4th Annual Posada Mexicana at the Mérida English Library—a special evening filled with music, community, and Mexican holiday traditions.
Saturday, December 20th
⏰ 7:00–9:00 p.m.
Outside MEL (Calle 53 x 66 y 68, Centro)
We’ll serenade our neighbors with Christmas carols in English and Spanish, and sing the traditional Posada at the MEL door.
Christmas Dinner Sale - Enjoy our signature Platillo Fiesta:
Cash bar available
🌟 Don’t miss the monumental piñata!
Everyone gets a turn—candy for all!
This event helps support the Mérida English Library, Huellitas de Amor (pet rescue, adoption & sterilization), and Teletón CRIT Yucatán (supporting children with disabilities). Bring pet food donations or contribute to our donation box.
Come enjoy a festive night of food, music, community, and holiday cheer.
Our popular lecture series returns in December with a variety of interesting and informative talks on Wednesday evenings at 7:00 PM, continuing through March.
December 3: Behind Closed Doors: Restoring Mérida’s Historic Soul - What stories live behind the grand old doors of Mérida’s Centro? Join us for a special MEL Talk with Pia Rosado, landscape architect, designer, and co-author of Mérida a Puertas Abiertas / Behind Closed Doors, a stunning bilingual book that explores 18 beautifully restored homes in Mérida’s historic center. Told through personal anecdotes and intimate design journeys, the book — and this talk — reveal how abandoned ruins have been brought back to life, and how Centro has become a magnet for transformation. Pia will sign copies of her book after the talk, and you can secure your copy in advance online in the MEL Shop. Pia will make a generous donation to MEL for each copy sold.
December 10: From Blueprints to Breakthroughs: Building & Remodeling in Mérida - Thinking of remodeling in Mérida? Or maybe you're already knee-deep in tile samples and city permits? Join us for an insightful and practical conversation with Pablo Garza Villarreal, award-winning architect and founder of the multidisciplinary design firm FORMM as he shares his experience building, restoring, and consulting on projects across Mérida — from compact casitas to complex developments.
December 17: Stories from the Shadows: Bruno Traven and the Soul of Mexico - Dra Marina Aguirre invites attendees to reflect on how Bruno Traven’s literature offers an intimate and critical view of México profundo—that deeper, often invisible Mexico that lives beyond official or folkloric narratives—as an enduring exercise in cultural and political memory.
There will be NO MEL TALKS on Wednesday December 24 or Wednesday December 31.
Read more about these talks and the plans for the rest of the season on our website.
Join Us for December’s House & Garden Tours!
This December, we invite you to explore the charm and beauty of Mérida with our House & Garden Tours, happening every Wednesday morning—except for December 24 and December 31. We are especially excited for Wednesday December 10, which features a neighborhood tour of the Santa Ana neighborhood in the morning (meeting at 9:30 AM near the fountain in Santa Ana Park Calle 60 x Calle 43), and later we will host the season's first Evening Tour. Experience the magic of Mérida’s homes under the glow of night lights! We’ll meet outside the Museo Regional de Antropología (Paseo de Montejo x Calle 43) at 5:30 PM to begin this unforgettable journey.
Please visit our website for more information, and plan to join us!
Tickets for the 2025-26 season are on sale now at MEL or online in the MEL Shop. Tickets cost $400 for MEL members and $500 for non-members.
MEL members who intend to attend several tours have the option to purchase a discounted six-session pass for $2000. These passes can be shared with one other person, and are transferable but not refundable. Buy them online in the MEL Shop.
Come stroll around Santa Ana, the Soho of Mérida, with us! Tours run every other Thursday through March including December 4 and December 18. We meet at the fountain in the Santa Ana Park (Calle 60 x 45) at 10 AM for a short talk, then visit several galleries and workshops in the barrio.
Registration is limited to 12 participants per tour, and costs $200 for MEL members and $300 for non-members. Buy your tickets at MEL or online in the MEL Shop.
Set in the heart of La Ermita, this beautifully restored traditional home offers an unforgettable tropical backdrop for our December wine tasting and tapas MEL fundraiser. Surrounded by lush palms, flowering vines, and fragrant regional plants, the property blends the romance of historic Meridano architecture with the comfort of modern luxury.
Guests will enter through an elegant, restored facade into an airy interior courtyard where soft lighting and seasonal decor highlight the home’s charming details - hand carved wooden doors and high beamed ceilings. The open air layout invites the outdoors in, carrying tropical breezes through every space. At the center of the garden, a large pool reflects the surrounding greenery and festive holiday touches. Cozy seating areas, illuminated patios and warm welcoming arrangements create corners for conversation while still maintaining the expansive feel of the home’s tropical landscape.
Throughout the evening, guests can savor carefully curated wines and artisanal tapas in an atmosphere that feels both relaxed and refined - a perfect blend of Yucatán tradition, holiday spirit, and tropical elegance.
MEL looks forward to your company on Thursday, 18 December from 7:00 - 9:00 PM. Please join us to celebrate this festive season!
Tickets for MEL Members go on sale online in the MEL Shop on Thursday December 4 beginning at 9:00 AM. During this presale-period, library members may purchase two tickets at MX$700 each per Family or Individual membership number. Please visit our website for information about our ticket sales policies.
Tickets go on sale without restriction both online and in person at MEL at 9:00 AM on Monday December 8. Tickets for non-members are MX$800 each. Please note that tickets are NOT AVAILABLE at the door of the event, so make sure to buy yours in advance.
There are still Season Tickets available for the remaining four wine events! We encourage supporters of MEL and those who want to enjoy a fun evening with art, music, good wine and tasty tapas to buy a Season Ticket for $2,800. This will guarantee your spot at the remaining four events, including the exciting December 18th event. These Season Tickets are only available to MEL members, so join today if you are not already a member!
Whether you’re a bingo regular or it’s your first time, we promise a warm, friendly atmosphere and lots of joy. MEL will also offer a special cider toast for all attendees to welcome the New Year, celebrating the wonderful community we create together.
Come connect, play, eat, and enjoy an evening filled with laughter, prizes, and good company.
Saturday, December 27
⏰ Doors open at 6:45 PM — We start at 7:00 PM sharp
Buy your bingo cards in advance online in the MEL Shop
Join us for all the fun and help us ring in the New Year—MEL style!
Join Mónica González to explore the eight movements of Taichi, Tuesdays and Thursdays at 9:30 – 10:30 AM. Classes are $100 per session or you can purchase the seven sessions of the month for the reduced price of $575. Visit the MEL Shop to reserve your spots.
Please note there will be NO TAI CHI on December 30.
Richard Poe is a classically trained, fourth generation Pilates teacher. All student levels will feel comfortable in attending. Students should only bring a mat; a Pilates–specific mat is preferred but not required.
Join Richie at MEL on Fridays 10:45 am – 11:40 am in our air-conditioned classroom. Register online in the MEL Shop for a single session for $200 or take advantage of a special $700 monthly fee.
What time is it?It's Storytime!
This December we invite you to be part of our two Storytime editions at MEL.
Join us on Saturday, December 6th at 10 am to read Mr. Brown Can Moo! Can You? by Dr. Seuss to explore the sound animals make. Stay over, right after Storytime to have fun at the Playful Physical Exercise Workshop, a fun 60-minute session for kids ages 5–10, guided by a specialized physiotherapist from Sensoria Rehab Center. Through games, animal walks, balance challenges, and creative movement, little ones will build strength, coordination, confidence, and emotional expression—all while having fun! This is a free class, wear comfortable clothes and shoes.
Then on Saturday, December 20th, the Holiday Storytime will be the last one of the year. We'll read "Fancy Nancy - Splendiferous Christmas" by Jane O'Conner and Robin Preiss Glasser. A day for festive art & crafts.
Later that day, visit us again with your best holiday outfit for Posada Mexicana at MEL, starting at 7 pm.
We meet at MEL on Monday evenings to practice English and Spanish during Conversaciones con Amigos. This is a language exchange program.
We open the doors at 6:45 pm. We start the practice at 7 with a suggested topic, though you can talk about anything you wish as long as you avoid controversial topics. We finish at 9:00 pm. This program is designed for adults only and is free for MEL members, $20 for non-members.
Note the group will NOT MEET on December 22 or December 29, but will resume on Monday January 5, 2026.
Ready to make your move? Join our new Chess Club at MEL! We’ll meet in MEL’s classroom on Fridays through December 12 from 11:50 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Thanks to the generous donation of professional chess sets from our friend Jae Om, and the amazing support of volunteers Tammy and Ron Morris, this new club is here to bring together chess lovers of all levels.
Register online in the MEL Shop. All funds raised will help us buy professional chess clocks so we can soon host exciting tournaments at MEL! Come learn, play, and connect with other chess enthusiasts. Everyone’s welcome!
The Mérida Writers Group meets in our classroom every-other-week, including December 3 and December 17. This is an opportunity for writers of all levels and genres to share their work. Join them starting at 11:00 AM.
Our Fiction & Friends book club meets on December 18 starting at 10:00 AM. The selection for December is Hard by a Great Forest by Leo Vardiashvili. You can read a synopsis here, and please visit our website for more information or to join.
The Climate Solutions Group will not meet at MEL in December. We’ll see you at our next meeting on Saturday January 17 starting at 11:30 AM.
There’s a place for you to be part of the students who are already learning this fascinating language! You can still join the groups on Wednesdays and Fridays: Level 1 Beginners at 4 pm, Level 2 Basic Intermediate at 5:00 pm, and Level 3 Intermedio at 6:00 pm.
We meet in the air-conditioned classroom of the Mérida English Library. Register now online or in person and live the experience with teacher Alfonso, language instructor. Learn more about our classes here.
Language classes will not meet between December 22 and January 2. We’ll return after the new year on Wednesday January 7.
Since 2012, hats and toys made by a group of crafters have been distributed weekly to children in the cancer unit of O’Horán Hospital. Besides a gorro (brimless hat), each child gets a toy and activity book, crayons or colored pencils.
If you can knit, crochet, or sew, please join us in the classroom at MEL on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays, 9:30 - 12:30, from October through March. We have patterns and some materials to share, but please bring your own equipment and supplies if you have them.
Questions? Please send an email to Marie Barchus, Marianne Kehoe, or Irma O'Meara.
AA holds their regular weekly sessions in English at MEL every Thursday starting at 7:00 PM. Visit our website for more information.
Instructor Alma Duran returns in January with her popular Yoga4Snowbirds, specially designed sessions that will help you unlock the key to feeling joyful, healthy and energetic - without risky or pretzel-like postures. Each class is different and offers a full-body, safe, mindful, breath-oriented sequence that includes powerfully grounding and strengthening, meditation in motion, breathwork and other complementary somatic explorations.
Classes will begin on January 9 at MEL. Please visit our website for more information.
📚 Community Book Care: Let’s Keep Our Library Thriving
At MEL, our collection grows thanks to the dedication of our Library Collections Committee, the generosity of donors, and the ongoing support of our members. We take great care in curating books that reflect our community’s interests — from new releases to beloved classics.
As we head into the high season, we’d like to gently remind everyone of the importance of responsible book stewardship:
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Return or renew your books on time, so others can enjoy them too.
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If you’re finished with a book early, you can drop it off anytime using our front drop slot.
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And if you notice a book that seems out of place on the shelf, feel free to hand it to a volunteer — we’re always happy to help get it where it belongs!
We are also deeply grateful to our volunteers, who give their time and energy to keep the library organized, welcoming, and accessible. Their work — alongside yours — helps preserve this collection as a shared treasure for everyone.
Thank you for helping us keep MEL vibrant, thoughtful, and full of life. 💛
Kate Jefferson - George McClellan - Alvah Hanrahan - Kathi Bienz - Veronica Iglesias - Nigel Cundale - Astrid Carrillo - Belle McDonnell - Craig Scofield - Philippa Celani - Phoebe Waller Sharp - Cindi Nicholson - Zoe Franco - Janelle Masden - Ramon Jakobs - Star Siler.
FOR SALE- Beautiful home + casita in lush garden with pool.
Asking $395,000 USD (7,400,000 MX. pesos). Located in the traditional neighborhood of Chuburna de Hidalgo. 576 m2 lot 488 m2 construction. Contact Evonne von Boeck 999-230-3705
Contact them at https://www.yucatanattorneys.com/contact-us/
Download it now! here : https://yuc.today/mel
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