Las Posadas

 

An old friend of mine brought this Nativity scene from Mexico for me, and even though I'm not religious, I always set it up for the holiday.

December 16-24 is the celebration of Las Posadas - posada meaning lodging, or accommodation.  There is a procession to various family homes to re-enact Mary and Joseph's journey to Bethlehem.

This has been a Mexican tradition for over 400 years and has always included dramatizations, a tradition which has its roots in Bible plays, used to teach religious doctrine to largely illiterate populations.

People will dress up and play the parts of Mary and Joseph as well as the angels and shepherds, or will just carry images of holy personages.  Children carry poinsettias and musicians follow along singing traditional songs, such as:

Each night, children smash star-shaped clay piñatas and everyone will feast.

Prayer is also heavily involved at each posada stop, and of course, leading up to Mass.