Las Posadas
Las Posadas is a traditional Latin American celebration observed primarily in Mexico, Guatemala, and parts of the Southern United States, taking place from December 16 to December 24. The holiday commemorates the journey of Mary and Joseph as they sought shelter before the birth of Jesus, focusing on themes of hospitality and community. During Las Posadas, children participate in nightly processions, visiting different homes and singing carols to ask if there is room for Mary and Joseph. Each evening culminates in small religious ceremonies and gatherings, where refreshments are shared, highlighting the communal spirit of the celebration.
The event symbolizes the nine months Mary carried Jesus, with each night representing a specific virtue such as charity and joy. In a festive atmosphere, children often dress in traditional attire, and the celebrations conclude with breaking piñatas and exchanging gifts. Las Posadas is believed to have roots in the late sixteenth century, possibly adapted from indigenous Aztec practices, making it a unique fusion of cultural and religious traditions. This heartwarming event emphasizes the importance of community, generosity, and faith during the holiday season.
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Las Posadas
Las Posadas is a Latin American Catholic holiday celebration. It takes place in the days before Christmas, and celebrates the Nativity story. Many researchers believe that the holiday was adapted from existing Aztec practices in the sixteenth century in order to make it easier for the local Aztec population to convert to Christianity.
During Las Posadas, the children of a neighborhood gather into a procession. The procession travels to a different house each night, asking if the residents have room for Mary and Joseph to stay. While at the house, the residents pass out food and drinks to the children, then have a small religious ceremony. In most cases, the children are told there is no room until the final night, when a celebratory party is thrown. Christmas carols are sung throughout the holiday, and the children are sometimes accompanied by musicians during the procession.
Background
According to the Christian belief system, the Virgin Mary was pregnant with the messiah Jesus Christ in Roman-controlled Israel. At the time, Mary was married to a carpenter, Joseph. The Abrahamic God had sent the angel Gabriel to Mary, telling her that she would name her son Jesus and that Jesus was the Son of God. Joseph was initially suspicious, but God sent him a vision explaining the situation. After the vision, Joseph decided to support Mary and raise Jesus as his own child.
At that time, the Roman emperor had given an order that a census was to be conducted. This required that all citizens travel back to their hometowns to be counted. Mary and Joseph were not living in Bethlehem, their hometown. Even though Mary was pregnant, the couple was required to travel a significant distance back to Bethlehem.
During the journey, Mary and Joseph found shelter in the stable of a local farmer. The couple had sought other lodgings, but were told that every inn in the town was full. As they attempted to go to sleep on piles of hay, Mary went into labor. After she gave birth, the only place to lay down the newborn Jesus was in a manger full of hay.
That same night, an angel appeared to a group of nearby shepherds. The angel told the shepherds that the Messiah had been born, and that the child was nearby. The shepherds traveled as instructed by the angel, and quickly discovered the baby Jesus. Similarly, a group of three wise men from a faraway land had been following the path of an extremely bright star. They believed that the star prophesized a coming king. The wise men followed the star directly to where Jesus was born, then gave the child gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. The wise men refused to report the presence of Jesus to local rulers, out of fear that the rulers would attempt to harm him.
Christians believe that Jesus was the divine Son of God. However, Jesus was betrayed by Judas, one of his twelve chosen disciples. Jesus was executed on a cross by the Roman government. He died to redeem humanity from its original sin, incurred when Adam and Eve disobeyed God and ate from the tree of knowledge.
Overview
Many Christian sects celebrate the birth of Jesus during the winter holiday season. The most popular Christian winter holiday is Christmas. During Christmas, Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus by exchanging gifts with one another. They also typically spend time with loved ones, decorate an evergreen tree with ornaments, and attend a celebratory mass. Other Abrahamic faiths celebrate the holiday season in a different manner. For example, Jewish people celebrate Hanukkah, the festival of lights.
Las Posadas is a Christian holiday tradition unique to Mexico, Guatemala, and the Southern United States. It is popular in Hispanic neighborhoods, where it is commonly practiced by entire streets at a time. Like Christmas, Las Posadas celebrates the Nativity story. However, instead of focusing on Jesus's birth, Las Posadas focuses on the difficult journey undertaken by Mary and Joseph as they searched for shelter. In Spanish, the word posada means "inn."
From December 16–24, many neighborhoods throughout the world celebrate Las Posadas. Children in these neighborhoods dress up in festive silver-and-gold robes. Many carry pictures of Mary and Joseph, lit candles, or holiday favors. In some cases, two children will dress up as Mary and Joseph and lead the procession. Before the procession begins, many children sing traditional Christmas carols. Adults, sometimes including musicians, gather behind the group of children.
Each night of Las Posadas, the procession makes its way to a different preselected home in the neighborhood. The children in the procession then ask if the home has room for Mary and Joseph to stay. They sing Christmas carols, including the traditional song La Cancion Para Pedir Posada. Most homes give the children refreshments, then undergo a small religious service. The nine nights of Las Posadas are said to represent the nine months Jesus spent inside Mary's womb. Each night, children are asked to meditate upon a specific virtue: detachment, trust, charity, strength, justice, joy, generosity, and purity. After the nine nights, the children break piñatas and receive gifts.
It is believed that Las Posadas originated in the late sixteenth century. Church records show a Friar Diego de Soria requesting permission from the pope to celebrate several extra Christmas masses from December 16–24. The Aztec religion also celebrated its gods during the same timeframe, and many researchers speculate that Las Posadas may have been adapted from an earlier Aztec holiday in order to make it easier for Aztec peoples to convert to Christianity.
Bibliography
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"Christmas: But What About Jesus?" Christians.eu, www.christians.eu/christmas-jesus/. Accessed 17 Dec. 2024.
"December: A Month of Multicultural Holiday Celebrations," Education World, 2017, www.educationworld.com/a‗lesson/lesson/lesson246.shtml. Accessed 17 Dec. 2024.
"Las Posadas," Mexconnect, www.mexconnect.com/articles/2816-las-posadas. Accessed 17 Dec. 2024.
"Las Posadas: Welcoming Jesus," UMC, 2019, www.umc.org/who-we-are/las-posadas-welcoming-jesus. Accessed 17 Dec. 2024.
"The Posada: A Christmas Tradition I Mexico," Hacienda Tres Rios, www.haciendatresrios.com/special-occasions/posada-christmas-in-mexico-traditions/. Accessed 17 Dec. 2024.
Villamayor, Carlos. “Posadas in Mexico, A Christmas Tradition.” Journey Mexico, 23 Nov. 2023, www.journeymexico.com/blog/posadas-in-mexico-christmas-tradition. Accessed 17 Dec. 2024.