Breaking Down Las Posadas (2024)

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Breaking Down Las Posadas? ›

Las Posadas commemorates the journey that Joseph and Mary made from Nazareth to Bethlehem in search of a safe refuge where Mary could give birth to the baby Jesus. When they were unable to find lodging in Bethlehem, Joseph and Mary were forced to seek shelter in a stable, where the Christ Child was born.

La Posada will transport Garden visitors to Mexico, where it is celebrated, as they make their way through the Garden with singing processions, traditional food and beverage and ending with the breaking of piñatas.

The procession is then followed by celebration, as the kids break piñatas, sing songs, and play games. Each day of Las Posadas has a lesson to teach us because it is dedicated to a special virtue: generosity, humility, charity, courage, detachment, purity, justice, joy, and trust. Each one of them is a true feast.

At the beginning of a posada, people are divided in two groups, the ones “outside” representing Mary and Joseph, and the ones “inside” representing innkeepers. Then everyone sings the posada litany together, re-enacting Mary and Joseph's search, going back and forth until they are finally “admitted” to an inn.

Las Posadas Traditions

The inclusion of musicians in the procession. Carrying a manger scene or images of Jesus and Mary. Having children dress as an angel or Jesus and Mary, with Mary sometimes riding a real donkey. Singing carols at houses asking for permission to enter, with permission always being denied.

On December 24th, the ninth and final night of the Posada, everyone attends midnight mass. Midnight mass is called Misa de Gallo, Mass of the Rooster. Then the real celebrations begin after mass. Santa Claus does not arrive, Christmas presents are not exchanged, this is not part of the Mexican traditional Christmas.

The last posada takes place on Christmas Eve (known as Noche Buena) and is followed by a late-night mass known as La Misa Del Gallo (The Mass of the Rooster) – so named because a rooster is believed to have crowed on the night when Jesus was born. Young and old congregate together and welcome the start of Christmas.

Las Posadas commemorates the journey that Joseph and Mary made from Nazareth to Bethlehem in search of a safe refuge where Mary could give birth to the baby Jesus. When they were unable to find lodging in Bethlehem, Joseph and Mary were forced to seek shelter in a stable, where the Christ Child was born.

Las posadas was a tradition brought to Latin America by the Spanish and adopted in both Mexico and Guatemala. Starting December 16 at dusk, families, friends and neighbors dress up as angels, or shepherds-- and two people are dressed as Mary and Joseph.

It's thought that Las Posadas can be traced to Augustine priests who wanted to be able to teach the Aztecs about their religion. Their celebrations coincided with an Aztec festival celebrating the birth of their god Huitzilopochtli.

What are the 4 must haves for a successful posada? ›

Traditional Posada foods include: tamales, pozole, buñuelos, atole, ponche and café de olla. Whether you're hosting a Posada, Christmas Eve dinner, or just want to make tamales at home, our easy to follow Red Pork Tamales recipe will help you make, share, and enjoy this traditional dish with friends & family.

The piñata used in Posadas is shaped like a seven-pointed star. Each point represents the seven deadly sins that are broken as soon as María and José are granted a place to stay. The piñata is normally filled with candy, and once it is fully broken, a prayer is said and the festivities begin.

In many ways, the festival reenacts the story of Mary and Joseph. Each night, children dress up as angels. They then march through town, leading their families and others. At each home, they sing Christmas carols and ask for lodging.

While this is traditionally a time of devotion, it is also a time for celebrations. A part of Las Posadas is singing pidiendo posado (the traditional Los Posasa song), music, piñatas, and eating sweets and food like tamales, atole, buñuelos, etc., or having traditional drinks like ponche, and café de olla.

It is a time to come together for nine days and nights of devotion to purification, meditation and getting in touch with the holiness of the season. The Posaditas go to different houses each night and are sent away, until the ninth night, when they are finally given posada (shelter).

At the end of a posada, the host hands out party favors of small bags filled with candy. December 25: Christmas, or Fiestas Navideñas, is a much calmer day in Mexico, with the last posada of the season having been held the night before on Christmas Eve.

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.

It is common for people to play the parts of Joseph and Mary, leading the group in a procession. They sing Christmas carols and enjoy the spirit of the evening as they end up visiting and finishing the evening at a different house each of the nine nights of the celebration.