Residents of Monterrey, Nuevo León, started their Christmas shopping early this Sunday to avoid crowds near Christmas Eve. In the city center, streets like Morelos and Juárez saw high foot traffic from families and shoppers. Many chose to buy gifts, winter clothing, and household items amid a festive atmosphere.
In downtown Monterrey, residents took advantage of the December season to advance their Christmas shopping and avoid the crowds in the days before Christmas Eve. A tour of the commercial area showed dozens of people visiting shops on streets like Morelos, Padre Mier, Colegio Civil, 15 de Mayo, 5 de Mayo, and Juárez Avenue, particularly around midday this Sunday.
Full families, couples, seniors, and young people walked the busiest spots, checking displays, comparing prices, and carrying bags with winter clothing, shoes, toys, gift bags, and household items. The atmosphere filled with Christmas music, while fruit stands, corn vendors, and typical Monterrey food stalls drew shoppers to rest and hydrate with sodas and flavored waters.
Isabel Hernández, who arrived with her daughter at 08:00 hours, shared her experience: “That's what we're doing, buying the gifts. We do it from now to avoid so many people, but there are still a lot. We came for clothes, shoes, and little gifts for the whole family.” By 14:00 hours, the streets already showed a more crowded scene.
The high pedestrian traffic caused vehicle saturation on main roads, with long lines of urban buses, vans, and private cars. Some drivers expressed annoyance at pedestrians not respecting traffic lights. Merchants anticipate an increase in sales during weekends and the vacation period as the December festivities approach.