Mexican Holiday Traditions: Las Posadas

I started to realized that my blog is suppose to be about culture (or that’s what I’m aiming for), but I have been spending way to much time writing about dramas. I love dramas! I am going to try to spend more time writing about things that come up in everyday life that are also culturally relevant. Previously I had a blog with the same name and I have yet to transfer over the post this will be the first of the post that come from my other blog. At the time of these blogposts, you will see that I had a love affair with Mexican culture. I still do, but not as strong as during that time.

Las Posadas is Spanish for “lodging” or “accommodation.” It originated in Spain, but spread to Mexico and has been there for nearly 400 years. The celebration lasts for 9 days starting December 16 and ending December 24.

Las Posadas is celebrated by re-enacting the story from the Bible of Joseph and Mary searching for shelter in Bethlehem.

A person dressed up as Joseph and another as Mary (riding on a real donkey typically) walk to door-to-door seeking shelter. Along the walk, people dressed in different roles join in, such as angels or shepherds. Children may carry poinsettias. A person who walks in front holding a lit candle with a lampshade leading the way.

When the people answer the doors, they sing songs back and fourth about needing a place to stay (la cancion para pedir posadas) and then finally someone let’s you in. Each night, a different home will be the place to stop. The night ends with everyone gathers around a nativity scene to pray and a short bible reading.

Then they celebrated with delicious food, singing Christmas carols, and a star-shaped clay piñata being broken.

The 9 days symbolizes Mary being pregnant 9 months or the 9 days it took to reach Bethlehem. It depends on who you ask, I guess.

The thing I like most about Las Posadas is the community gathering together to celebrate. I often feel like even though we celebrate things with other people here in the United States, we’re still distant. Another thing I like is that this tradition stays close to the meaning. Nowadays, Christmas is celebrated by anybody and it sort of lost its religious meaning.