How To Celebrate Las Posadas
- Make star-shaped piñatas. Las Posadas is a great event that can be celebrated by adults and children alike! ...
- Attend a procession. Before each gathering, all the guests form a procession to mark Mary and Joseph’s search for an inn on the night of Jesus’s birth.
- Reflect and meditate. On each of the nine nights, a different quality will be meditated upon — humility, strength, detachment, charity, trust, justice, purity, joy, and generosity.
What countries celebrate Las Posadas?
Las Posadas is a novenario (an extended devotional prayer). It is celebrated chiefly in Latin America, Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, Cuba, and by Hispanics in the United States. It is typically celebrated each year between December 16 and December 24. Latin American countries have continued to celebrate the holiday, with very few changes to the tradition.
What do you do in a Posada?
- The Nativity. …
- Punch. …
- Pilgrims. …
- Book of litanies. …
- Candles and sparklers. …
- The piñata. …
- Aguinaldo bags. …
- Traditional food.
When is Las Posadas celebrated?
Las Posadas, celebrated yearly from December 16-24, is a religious festival traditionally held in Mexico and parts of Latin America. Translating to ‘The Inns’ in Spanish, Las Posadas is an important part of the Christmas festivities. Over the nine nights of celebrations, parties are held at different people’s homes.
How do people celebrate Las Posadas?
What to know about Mexican holiday tradition
- Pilgrims. ...
- Villancicos (Carols) The main part of the posada is the singing of the carols, in which the pilgrims outside are asking for shelter.
- Piñata. ...
- Food. ...
- Posada Downtown: The El paso Central Business Association will have its Mexcian Posada, starting at 5 p.m. ...
- St. ...
How do people in Mexico celebrate Posadas?
How To Celebrate Las PosadasMake star-shaped piñatas. Las Posadas is a great event that can be celebrated by adults and children alike! ... Attend a procession. Before each gathering, all the guests form a procession to mark Mary and Joseph's search for an inn on the night of Jesus's birth. ... Reflect and meditate.
What are Posadas celebrated with?
Modern Posadas Nowadays, almost any party in the lead up to Christmas can be called a Posada and the celebration consists of many common elements such as food and drink, music, sweet-filled piñatas and sweets.
What do families do during Las Posadas?
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.
What do you eat on Las Posadas?
After the piñata comes dinner: traditional posada fare is tamales, buñuelos, atole and café de olla. The tamales are made with corn dough, softened with lard and beaten until the dough reaches 'water stage': a small ball of dough should float when put in a glass of water; if it sinks, it needs to be beaten more.
Why are Posadas 9 days long?
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).
What are some fun facts about Las Posadas?
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.
How do you throw a posada?
Give each person a candle and a few sparklers. The candles are lit during the singing and procession (caminata) and the sparklers are lit at the end just before dinner. The outside group approaches the first door, singing. The inside group responds in song, but does not open the door.
What is Las Posadas holiday symbols?
First, a 7-cone star (estrella) representing the Star of Bethlehem; second, a donkey (burro) representing the animal on which Mary rode pregnant to Bethlehem; and third, a Christmas tree (árbol de Navidad) – all of which are traditional shapes used for the 9 days of Las Posadas, Christmas and the Three Kings in Mexico.
What are the homes decorated with during Las Posadas?
There are nine Posadas. These celebrate the part of the Christmas story where Joseph and Mary looked for somewhere to stay. For the Posadas, the outside of houses are decorated with evergreens, moss and paper lanterns. Lighting the way for posadas might be 'luminarias' or 'farolitos'.
What are some fun facts about Las Posadas?
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.
Who celebrates Los posadas?
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.
What country commonly celebrate posadas?
Las Posadas is a novenario (an extended devotional prayer). It is celebrated chiefly in Latin America, Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, Cuba, Spain, and by Hispanics in the United States. It is typically celebrated each year between December 16 and December 24.
How long do Las Posadas last?
One of the most popular Christmas traditions in Northern New Mexico is Las Posadas, a nine-day celebration of religious observance beginning Decemb...
Who participates in Las Posadas?
So here is the religious story behind Las Posadas. Las Posadas is a tradition brought to Latin America by the Spanish and adopted in both Mexico an...
What do you eat on Las Posadas?
After the piñata comes dinner. Traditional posada fare is tamales, buñuelos, atole, and café de olla. The tamales are made with corn dough, softene...
What is the Las Posadas festival?
Las Posadas, religious festival celebrated between December 16 and 24 that commemorates the journey of Mary and Joseph before the birth of Jesus.
What is the Mexican society?
Mexican society is characterized by extremes of wealth and poverty, with a limited middle class wedged between an elite cadre of landowners and investors on the one hand and masses of rural …
What is the procession of Mary and Joseph?
The procession is primarily made up of children dressed in silver and gold robes carrying lit candles and images of Mary and Joseph riding a donkey. Adults, including musicians, follow the procession, which visits selected homes and asks for lodging for Joseph and Mary.
What is the Las Posadas celebration?
Las Posadas, celebrated yearly from December 16-24, is a religious festival traditionally held in Mexico and parts of Latin America. Translating to ‘The Inns’ in Spanish, Las Posadas is an important part of the Christmas festivities. Over the nine nights of celebrations, parties are held at different people’s homes. Before each gathering, all the guests form a procession to mark Mary and Joseph’s search for an inn on the night of Jesus’s birth. The march is usually led by an angel as a symbolic act of Mary and Joseph finding shelter in a stable when they were unable to find lodging in Bethlehem. The parties are joyous occasions, including prayers, food, music, fireworks, and piñatas!
What is the tradition of Las Posadas?
Las Posadas is a tradition brought to Latin America by the Spanish and adopted in both Mexico and Guatemala. Starting December 16th at dusk, families, friends, and neighbors dress up as angels and shepherds. Two people are dressed as Mary and Joseph, as well as the innkeeper.
What are some interesting facts about Las Posadas?
5 Amazing Facts About Las Posadas 1 The seven deadly sins#N#The star-shaped piñata children break apart has seven points that are meant to symbolize the seven deadly sins. 2 Rewards from heaven#N#The treats released from inside the piñata symbolize rewards from heaven, which are shared among guests in packages called ‘aguinaldos.’ 3 Staying warm and cozy#N#To stay warm, guests are served ‘ponche’, an aromatic fruit punch that includes piloncillo, water, cinnamon, and fruits such as guavas, tejocotes, and oranges. 4 Mary’s birth symbolized#N#The ‘Novena’ — the nine days of Las Posadas — signifies the nine months Mary carried Jesus in her womb. 5 Songs of devotion#N#The songs that are sung at each home form a dialogue between the ‘Fuera,’ sung by the pilgrims, and ‘Dentro,’ sung by those playing the innkeepers.
What is Las Posadas filled with?
Las Posadas is a great event that can be celebrated by adults and children alike! One of the most exciting elements of Las Posadas is the star-shaped piñatas filled with candy and toys.
Where were posadas originally held?
The Posada celebrations were originally held in the church but the custom spread. Later it was celebrated in haciendas, and then in family homes, gradually taking the form of the celebration as it is now practiced by the time of the 19th century. Now, neighborhood committees often organize the posadas and a different family will offer to host the celebration each night. The other people in the neighborhood bring food, candy, and piñatas so that the costs of the party don’t fall only on the host family.
What did the Aztecs worship?
The Aztecs, particularly Mexica or a group of Nahua people entering Central Mexico founding the Aztec Empire, traditionally worshipped Huitzilopochtli, the god of war, during the winter solstice. 1582. Catholicism spreads in Mexico. The winter solstice festival, which was one of the most important celebrations ...
Why was the Aztecs' winter solstice important?
The winter solstice festival, which was one of the most important celebrations of the year to the Aztecs, is proselytized when Spanish missionaries brought the reinvented religious pageant to Mexico to teach the story of Jesus' birth.
The party don't stop 'til January
On December 12, Catholics celebrate the Virgin of Guadalupe, which is followed by series of parties, called posadas, from December 16 to 24; then Christmas dinner takes place on December 24, New Year on December 31, and the Three Kings Day on January 8.
The art of piñatas
EL UNIVERSAL in English How do Mexicans celebrate Christmas Posadas Mexican Posadas. Christmas in Mexico
What is the tradition of Las Posadas?
In Mexico, many traditional Las Posadas celebrations begin with prayer, for instance, with a recitation of the Rosary, and then continues with the caminata, a re-enactment of Joseph and Mary’s search for a room.
When do Las Posadas start?
Where I grew up, the Las Posadas celebrations started 9 days before Christmas each year, always on December 16th, and continued each day through Christmas Eve.
What is the Mexican dinner?
Dinner usually consists of a traditional Mexican antojito like tacos, tamales, pozole and the like. Here are a few links with yummy recipes:
What instruments do you need to sing Las Posadas?
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. (Check out the resources below).
What are the main components of Las Posadas?
This guide is inspired by my family’s traditions. Each Las Posadas celebration has three main components; first, the prayer and c aminata, then the food, and lastly, the piñata.
What is the Mexican Christmas tradition?
The Mexican Christmas tradition I enjoyed most as a child is called Las Posadas. Even today, when I hear the lyrics of the Las Posadas song, or smell a cup of Mexican ponche, or watch kids swinging at a piñata, all those fond memories come rushing back to me.
Why is it called Las Posadas?
That is why it is called Las Posadas, because posada means Inn or dwelling in Spanish, so Las Posadas means the Inns. You probably remember that there was no room at any Inn on that night, and Mary and Joseph had to knock on a few doors ...
What is the meaning of Las Posadas?
Las Posadas derives from the Spanish word posada ( lodging, or accommodation) which, in this case, refers to the inn from the Nativity story . 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 Christ Jesus .
When did Las Posadas start?
Children in Oaxaca, Mexico, celebrating Las Posadas. The celebration has been a Mexican tradition for over 400 years, starting in 1586. Many Mexican holidays include dramatizations of original events, a tradition which has its roots in the ritual of Bible plays used to teach religious doctrine to a largely illiterate population in 10th- ...
Where is Christmas celebrated in Spain?
Christmas tradition in the Spanish-speaking world. For other uses, see Posadas. Children smashing a traditional star-shaped piñata in a pre-posada party in Mexico City. Las Posadas is a novenario (an extended devotional prayer). It is celebrated chiefly in Latin America, Mexico, Guatemala, Cuba, Spain, and by Hispanics in the United States.
What is the Aztec goddess' birthday?
According to the Aztec calendar, Tonantzin Guadalupe (the mother of the gods) was celebrated on the winter solstice, and she is still feted on December 12 , while their most important deity, the sun god Huitzilopochtli, was born during the month of December (panquetzaliztli).
Why does the procession happen in Wisconsin?
In Wisconsin, the procession may occur within a home, because of the weather.
When is the Novena de Aguinaldos?
In Colombia, Venezuela, and Ecuador, families and friends gather from the 16th to the 24th of December to pray the Novena de Aguinaldos .
What is the national holiday of Nicaragua?
In Nicaragua, the older generations grew up celebrating posadas, but the tradition fell out of fashion in cities by the 1960s; however, another major holiday called La Gritería (The Shoutings), on 7 December in honor of La Purísima Virgen (The Purest Virgin). La Purísima originated in León in the 1600s with Franciscan friars, and the celebration spread quickly throughout the country. By the 1800s, it became a national holiday and has since become a tradition in the Nicaraguan diaspora. La Purísima starts at noon on December 7 with major fireworks. Around 6:00 PM more fireworks announce the time when adults and children go out around their neighborhoods or towns with burlap sacks in hand visiting different altars while caroling the Virgin Mary. In exchange for singing, people receive sweets, fruit and toys. The celebration goes on into the night. At midnight, fireworks in the shape of Mary, stars and angels begin, typically lasting half an hour.
When do posadas take place in Mexico?
As in Mexico, people generally host posadas any evening, from Dec. 16 through the 23.
What is the significance of the Posada?
The tradition of a posada, which means shelter in Spanish, started off religious in nature as it retraces the journey Mary and Joseph took on their way to Bethlehem and ultimately the nativity of Jesus.
How many groups are there in Posada?
In order to begin the posada, the party of people has to be divided into two groups. One group remains inside, behind a closed door, while the other group is outside the door, representing Mary and Joseph asking for shelter.
Who said the Spanish used posadas as a tool for evangelization?
St. Anthony seminarian, Fray Asunción Xicoténcatl of the Order of Friars Minor, the Franciscans, said the Spanish used posadas as a tool for evangelization.
What is the symbolism of the star shaped piata?
Traditionally, the piñata had seven points to symbolize the seven deadly sins. These days, stars often are made with five or six points.
When do we celebrate Posadas?
The “posadas” are celebrated from December 16th to December 24th; in total we have 9 “posadas” and we start on the night of December 16th and finish on the night of December 24th, just before the Christmas day.
What do you ask for in Posada?
“Asking for posada”: the first thing you have to do in this celebration is “to ask for posada”. This consists of the following: all of the people attending the party need to divide into 2 groups: the first one will stay inside the house in charge of the ‘posada’, and the rest of the people will be the ‘peregrinos’ (pilgrims).
Where Do You Celebrate Them?
This celebration takes place all over the country, and of course in any other parts of the world where there are at least some Mexican people.
What do the Peregrinos carry?
The ‘peregrinos’ have to walk around the streets of the neighborhood, carrying candles and singing (it is really common for the people who are in front of this group to have costumes of Joseph and Maria, in case they are not dressed like that, they will carry small figures of Maria and Joseph).
What is the name of the bag that everyone receives at the end of each Posada?
At the end of each ‘posada’, every participant receives something called “aguinaldo”. That in reality is a small bag full of candies or fruit, and this is given to thank each person for their participation in the “posada”.
What are the drinks that are served at Posadas?
During the “posadas” there are typical dishes and drinks; you will find the traditional “ponche”, a hot drink that is made of fruits such as: apples, oranges, lemon, tejocote, prunes, and guava. Also you can drink typical coffee or a hot cup of chocolate, and you can eat of course traditional bread that is called “buñuelo”.
Why is the night of Jesus a religious tradition?
This tradition is of a religious origin, because it is a representation of when Maria and Joseph were looking for a place to spend the night for the birth of Jesus.
What is countries celebrate Las Posadas?
It is also celebrated in Spain, Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, Cuba, and by Hispanics in the United States.
What do people eat during Mexican Posadas?
The tamale is a traditional Mexican dish that is most enjoyed during the Holiday season.
How does a posada work in Mexico?
It’s the time when families get together to honor the birth of Jesus by going from house to house, carrying lighted candles, singing songs, and eating tamales.
What do people decorate for Las Posadas?
In Latin America, for the Posadas, people decorate their homes with evergreen wreaths, moss, and paper lanterns.
Do people give gifts during Las Posadas?
The traditional giving of gifts during Las Posadas is a modern-day innovation. Usually, gifts are not given during the Las Posadas however in modern times gifts can be given in a fun exchange event like a ‘secret santa’.
