One of the most popular Christmas traditions in Northern New Mexico is Las Posadas, a nine-day celebration of religious observance beginning December 16 and ending December 24th. The ritual has been a tradition in Mexico for over years. So here is the religious story behind Las Posadas. 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. Las Posadas is a great event that can be celebrated by adults and children alike! The march is usually led by an angel, guiding Mary and Joseph to shelter, when they could not find one in Bethlehem. The participants will first hold candles and sing Christmas carols, and make their way to a particular home.
On each of the nine nights, a different quality will be meditated upon — humility, strength, detachment, charity, trust, justice, purity, joy, and generosity. The act of singing songs by candlelight for the host to let everyone inside their homes on a cold winter night, to enjoy delicious traditional food and beverage, just screams coziness and togetherness. Whatever religion or faith or ascribe to, Las Posadas also reflects upon important concepts such as humility, strength, detachment, charity, trust, justice, purity, joy, and generosity.
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Holiday survey data is powered by TOP Agency. Skip to content View the calendar. Explore its many historical gems and dive deep into its fascinating art scene. Adventures continue with trips to world-famous archeological sites and one of the most important nature reserves in the country. The holiday season is a wonderful time to visit Mexico and be a part of its rich traditions.
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This is a very nice article, telling us about an important tradition in Mexico with its cultural and historical origins. It has been celebrated for many years but hardly known outside. Thanks for the talented writer Carlos Villamayor!
Click here to cancel reply. A scene from a posada in Mexico. Awards Why Custom-Made Itineraries? Once inside the house, there is a celebration which can vary from a big fancy party or a casual neighborhood to a small get-together among friends. Often the festivities begin with a short religious service which includes a Bible reading and prayer.
On each of the nine nights, a different quality will be meditated upon: humility, strength, detachment, charity, trust, justice, purity, joy, and generosity. After the religious service, the hosts distribute food to their guests, often tamales and a hot drink such as ponche or atole. 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.
Now a widely-celebrated tradition throughout Latin America, there is evidence that the posadas originated in colonial Mexico. In , Friar Diego de Soria, the Augustinian prior, obtained a papal bull from Pope Sixtus V to celebrate what was called misas de aguinaldo "Christmas bonus masses" between December 16 and The tradition seems to be one of many examples of how the Catholic religion in Mexico was adapted to make it easier for the indigenous people to understand and blend with their earlier beliefs.
The Aztecs had a tradition of honoring their god Huitzilopochtli at the same time of year coinciding with the winter solstice. They would have special meals in which the guests were given small figures of idols made from a paste that consisted of ground toasted corn and agave syrup. It seems that the friars took advantage of the coincidence and the two celebrations were combined. 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. Upon arrival, the hosts or "innkeepers" meet the procession at the door for an exchange of lyrics from the traditional Pidiendo Posada : Outside Singers In the name of heaven, I ask you for shelter because my beloved wife can continue no longer.
Inside Singers This is no inn, continue on your way. The song goes on for several stanzas until Joseph and Mary are finally recognized and allowed inside with everyone singing in unison: Let us sing with joy, all bearing in mind that Jesus, Joseph and Mary honor us by having come. Las Posadas Around the World In the Philippines , the posadas tradition begins on December 15 with a Misa de Gallo midnight mass every night for nine consecutive nights prior to Christmas eve.
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