Las Posadas

Las Posadas- Means Inn in Spanish A Christmas tradition in Mexico Begins on December 16th and is celebrated for 9 days representing the 9 months Mary carried Jesus. A procession takes place that symbolizes the journey made by Mary and Joseph.

What happens during the procession? The religious procession reenacts the search for shelter by Joseph and Mary before the birth of Jesus. During the procession, the celebrants go from house to house carrying the images of Mary and Joseph looking for shelter.

Asking for Shelter? Once the "innkeepers" let them in, the group of guests come into the home and kneel around the Nativity scene to pray.

What happens next? In some places, the final location may be a church instead of a home. Family and friends get together and the party goes for hours.

And the Party begins! On Christmas day they are blindfolded and taken to try to break a decorated clay piñata. Food and special fruit drinks are shared. This happens for 9 nights.

Breaking the Piñata The Piñata is filled with peanuts, oranges, tangerines, sugar canes and other wrapped hard candy.

Meaning of Breaking the piñata. Breaking the Piñata symbolizes abundance for the whole year; may it bring happiness, food, and well being to those around us.

DIA DE REYES- Another Important Day! It takes place on the 6th of January It is called the....Twelfth Night, Epiphany, Three Kings Day, The tradition in Mexico for Dia de Reyes, Kings Day, is for children to leave their shoes outside the door so they can be filled with gifts from the Magi (Three Kings: Melchior, Gaspar and Baltazar), commemorating the gifts carried by the them to the Christ Child. They also eat the traditional: “Rosca de Reyes”

Reyes Magos People enjoy Rosca de Reyes, an oval sweet bread, decorated with candied fruit.

Hidden inside the Rosca is a plastic Baby Jesus. The baby is hidden because it symbolizes the need to find a secure place where Jesus could be born, a place where King Herod would not fine him.

Each person cuts a slice of the Rosca. Whoever gets the baby shall host and invite everyone to a new celebration on February 2, Candelaria or Candle Mass Day.

DECORATION

Where is Mexico? Where are we?

Click on the Flag to complete your Scavenger Hunt! http://www.timeforkids.com/destination/mexico

Pictures used http://www.mexconnect.com/mex_/christmas.html http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=285892 http://www.chilangabanda.com/2005/12/19/una-tradicion-que-perdura-2/ http://guajirodreams.com/blogs/archivo5.html http://www.unido.com/archive/v11e17/titulares_story_3.php http://www.ohs.org/education/folklife/Washington-County-Community-Profile.cfm http://www.pinatas.nl/ http://www.mrnatural-austin.com/tamales.jpg http://www.vocations-holyfamily.com/chaplets.html http://www.illinoisfamily.org/informed/default.asp?s=754