All around Mexico “Posadas” are celebrated as a religious commemoration of the birth of Jesus and it is a very important festivity, traditionally celebrated before Christmas
When Spanish conquered “America” as well as Mexico; in these lands, the Aztec Civilization was present. When the Spanish people and the catholic priests arrived to Mexico, they found that Aztec had a lot of traditions and then the catholic church started to put similar traditions (of course with religious motives) in the same time as the Aztec culture, and trough out the time it became to substituted the Aztec tradition. From the period where the traditions of the Aztecs were changed every 9th day before the 24th of December the Mexican people celebrate this festivity of the Posadas. This celebration is to remember the pilgrimage of Maria and Jose on their journey from Nazareth to Belen, when they wanted to find a place where they could stay the night and wait for the birth of Jesus. Enlivened with joyful chants or carols, “The Posadas” revive the religious spirit of the participants; permeating them with friendship on this time towards each other. One of the most important aspects of this party is to request for “posada” with the traditionally chant, praying the “Rosario” and received the “bolo” (a bag full of candies, peanuts and fruits) There is a traditional drink that is call “Ponche” This beverage is a fruit tea and for older people a piquete (a bit of tequila) is added The main point of this festivity is to represent what happened with Maria and Jose, so the people who participate in this celebration walk in the streets with candles until they arrive to their destination Singing and praying at all the times. However all culminates when the pilgrimage arrives at the house asking for shelter (posada), in first instances the owner of the house refuses, but after the chants traditionally and when the owners knows that the pilgrimage are Maria and Jose are invited inside his house. (The chants represent what Maria and Jose went through in those times). Following the welcoming of Maria and Jose into the house it comes the most important moment of this festivity that is when the children break the “Piñata”. The traditionally Piñata was of crock pot wrapped with paper of different colors with 7 peaks that represents the 7 sins. When the piñata is broken a lot of candies and fruits fell down, this represents rewards of heaven for destroying the sins. All These traditions are repeated in a different house throughout the 9 days prior Christmas eve in different neighborhoods around Mexico. By Tere |