Las Posadas is a novenario. It is celebrated chiefly in Latin America, Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, and by Latin Americans in the United States. It is typically celebrated each year between December 16 and December 24.
Posadas in Mexico feature hot food and drinks, sweets, music, and piñatas. Throughout Mexico, churches and communities still celebrate these festivities with their traditional, religious elements. Today almost any party held around Christmas is called a posada.
Being a predominantly Catholic country, posadas in Mexico are a commemoration of the nativity story. Posada is the Spanish word for “inn” and refers to Joseph and Mary's search for refuge on their way to Bethlehem before giving birth to baby Jesus.
The word Posada means 'lodging' or 'inn' and is traditionally a religious celebration honoring the birth of baby Jesus. It was created as a re-telling of the story of how Mary and Joseph were looking for a place to stay in the days leading up to the birth of Jesus.
Originating from Spain, the posadas have been practiced in Mexico for over 400 years. Each night, a different family hosts the festivities and agrees to take in the "pilgrims" once they arrive at their doorstep. Prayers, music, and a reenactment of Mary and Joseph's journey are all a part of the Posada celebration.
Mass is held each day after the procession, and, at the conclusion of the service, children break open piñatas filled with candy, toys, and, occasionally, money.
The practice of Las Posadas was begun by Augustinian friars near Mexico City around the year 1586. They used the celebration to teach the indigenous Aztec population about the birth of Jesus by having daily Christmas masses for nine days. This also coincided with the winter solstice ceremonies of the Aztecs.
In celebration of Las Posadas, houses are decorated with evergreens, moss, and paper lanterns. In each Posada celebration, children are given candles and clay figures representing Mary and Joseph to go around the streets with.
It uses the plural form as the celebration lasts for a nine-day interval (called the novena) during the Christmas season, which represents the nine-month pregnancy of Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ.
Posadas are a series of fiestas navideñas (Christmas parties) that traditionally take place December 16–24 in many Latin American countries, including Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, and Cuba. Many people of Latino heritage in the U.S. also partake in the tradition.
Participants pray prayers of thanksgiving and have a fiesta, or party. They celebrate with feasting, traditional foods, and games. A popular game on Las Posadas is the breaking of a piñata. The piñata is a decorated clay or Paper Mache container filled with candy.
To do this, you will need a rosary, a person to lead the rosary, musical instruments like tambourines or maracas, and printed lyrics of the Las Posadas song.
In Mexico, Christmas celebrations start on December 16 with the first of nine daily parties called 'posadas'. 'Posada' in Spanish means inn or shelter, and these celebrations commemorate Mary and Joseph's search for shelter during their journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem.
A Taste of the Holidays
In addition to tamales, these traditional foods are eaten during Las Posadas: Churros are long dough sticks that are fried and covered in cinnamon and sugar. They're eaten dipped in molten chocolate. Pozole is another traditional holiday dish.
Religious Connection
The origin of las posadas is based in Christianity; but, not all Christians in the countries listed above participate in this tradition. Catholics typically celebrate these types of traditions and processions.
'Las Posadas': A Christian Folk Holiday with Pagan Elements
It is typically celebrated each year between December 16 and December 24. Las Posadas derives from the Spanish word posada (lodging, or accommodation) which, in this case, refers to the inn from the Nativity story.
Even though rooted in religion, las posadas had become a popular tradition in South Texas for both Catholics and non-Catholics -- the gathering with friends and families, singing songs door to door and sharing food and drinks -- which brings neighborhoods and communities together during the holiday season.
The cultural tradition of Las Posadas (translated to "the inns") is carried out every year during the 9 days before Christmas. Las Posadas is celebrated mostly by communities in Mexico and Central America, and the 9 days of celebration represent the 9 months of pregnancy of the Virgin Mary with her son Jesus.
Las Posadas
One traditional drink is ponche, a fruity spiced drink that can be served hot or cold, with or without alcohol. These posadas usually start on December 13th and go until Christmas Eve.
The musical choices depend on the prayer format, where and how it is celebrated. Las Posadas, found in most hymnals, is the familiar and traditional text sung when the pilgrims arrive at each location. Hymns that carry the theme of the novena are included in the prayer service and final celebration.
Families, friends, neighborhoods gather together and organize posadas for 9 days, from December 16th to the 24th. These 9 days represent Mary's nine months of pregnancy.
The nine nights of posadas leading up to Christmas are said to represent the nine months that Jesus spent in Mary's womb, or alternatively, to represent nine days journey that it took Mary and Joseph to get from Nazareth (where they lived) to Bethlehem (where Jesus was born).
Also you can drink typical coffee or a hot cup of chocolate, and you can eat of course traditional bread that is called “buñuelo”.
One game that is often played at Posada parties is piñata. A piñata is a decorated clay or papier-mâché jar filled with sweets and hung from the ceiling or tree branch. The piñata is often decorated something like a ball with seven peaks around it. The peaks or spikes represent the 'seven deadly sins'.