Las Posadas

Who celebrates Los Posadas is a yearly tradition for many Catholic Mexicans and some other Latin Americans. It symbolizes the trials which Mary and Joseph endured before finding a place to stay where Jesus could be born, The holiday is based on the passage in the New Testament.

The beginning of the Christmas season is marked with Las Posadas The beginning of the Christmas season is marked with Las Posadas. It lasts nine days. During the nine days the people celebrate with a candlelight procession and lively parties. It begins on December 16th.

The people of Mexico and Spain base their holiday on the Gospel of Luke which tells the story of Mary and Joseph. The story tells that during the time of Caesar Augustus there was a census to be taken. Everyone went to his home town to be registered. So Joseph traveled to Bethlehem with Mary who was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for her to have her child, and she gave birth to a son, her first-born. Because there was no room for them at the inn they stayed in a stable or barn.

Some of the symbols of this holiday are picture or figures of Mary and Joseph and their trip to Bethlehem, Nativity scenes and piñatas, which the children will break open during the final celebration on December 24th.

Typically, each family in a neighborhood will schedule a night for the Posada to be held at their home, starting on the 16th of December and finishing on the 24th. The family acts as the innkeepers and tells the “Holy Family there is no room.

Each night the travelers, made up of people from the neighborhood carrying statues of Mary, Joseph, a baby, and a donkey, will travel to different houses asking for shelter. Each time they will be refused. Until the last night when they find shelter in a home, church, or other spot selected by the neighborhood. As they walk they will sing songs and carry candles.

On the last night when they have found shelter the towns people will sing carols, light candles, and the children will break a piñata. Then they will feast.

Bibliography http://www.aracnets.net/ilcy//mexican.htm#2 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Las_Posadas