Las Posadas – a beautiful Christmas Tradition

Las Posadas is a nine-day holiday celebrated mainly in Mexico and Mexican communities in southern states of the U.S. Las Posadas starts on December 16^th and ends on Christmas Eve (December 24^th). This wonderful religious tradition is associated with Mary and Joseph’s journey to find a place for the birth of baby Jesus.

Las Posadas literally translate in English as “the inns” or “the lodges”

Source: evolutivity.info

The nine days of Las Posadas represent the nine months of pregnancy. Las Posadas rituals include a children’s procession with candles as a symbol of Mary and Joseph’s travel through Bethlehem. Children are dressed as Joseph, Mary, shepherds, angels and three kings. Children walk from house to house until they find a house where Las Posadas will be held that night.

There is a party each night that includes music, dance, lots of food and of course piñatas full of candies and nuts that children love to break.

Las Posadas originate from the Aztecs celebration of  Huitzilochli – the god of  sun and war. The Aztec holiday took place during the Summer solstice and the birth of longer days. When the Spaniards invaded the Aztecs’ territory, the holiday was moved to December and its’ focused was changed to the birth of baby Jesus.

Children always have a lot of fun celebrating Las Posadas by participating in recreating the complete pilgrimage of Mary and Joseph in search for a place to stay.

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