Las Posadas - Mexican

Hello! I am Las Posadas, a special festival that is celebrated in Mexico and other places. My name tells you a lot about my story. In the Spanish language, my name means “the inns.” I am a nine-day observance that remembers an important journey from the Christian Christmas story. People celebrate me to honor the story of Mary and Joseph, who traveled a long way looking for a safe and welcoming place, or an inn, where the baby Jesus could be born. My celebration is timed to lead up to Christmas. I begin every year on December 16th and continue for nine nights in a row, ending on December 24th, which is Christmas Eve.

My traditions started in Mexico a very long time ago, back in the 1500s. At that time, Catholic missionaries from Spain wanted to share the Christmas story with the people living there. To help teach the story, they created special church services for the nine nights before Christmas. As years passed, people enjoyed these gatherings so much that my celebrations began to change. They moved from taking place only in churches to being celebrated in neighborhoods and inside people’s homes. This helped me become a tradition that is shared among communities, families, and friends.

The most important part of my celebration is a procession that happens each night. A procession is like a special walk that helps tell a story. This one reenacts the journey that Mary and Joseph took. Every evening, a group of neighbors walks through their neighborhood together. Many people carry candles that glow in the dark, and they sing special songs that have been passed down for many years. The songs help tell the story of the search for an inn. The group stops at different houses along their route.

At each house, the people in the procession sing a song asking for a room. People inside the house sing back that there is no space for them. This happens a few times, showing how Mary and Joseph were turned away when they looked for shelter. But the journey always has a happy ending. Finally, the group arrives at the last house that was chosen for that night’s celebration. At this house, the people inside welcome the travelers and invite everyone to come in for a party.

Once inside, there is a joyful celebration for everyone. Families and friends gather to share special foods. They might eat warm tamales or drink a hot fruit punch called ponche. A very exciting part of the party for children is the piñata. Often, the piñata is shaped like a star. Children take turns trying to break it open. When it finally breaks, candy and treats spill out for everyone to share. This happy get-together is a wonderful way to end the nightly journey and celebrate community and welcome.