China to be honored guest at 35th Festival Cervantino in Guanajuato
The Christmas
Spirit in Mexico: Posadas
You
probably wait until the 25th of December to celebrate Christmas, and everything
you do prior to that date involves a shopping frenzy for gifts. But in Mexico, a unique tradition called Posadas is celebrated. It
begins nine days prior to Christmas Eve. For Christian Mexicans, Christmas is a
very important religious holiday because it represents the birth of Jesus
Christ.
The
term Posada is significant of a shelter; therefore the celebration consists of
asking for lodging just as Mary and Joseph (the Pilgrims) did when they were on
their way to Bethlehem.
During these nine days, each family in a neighborhood takes turns scheduling a
night for the Posada to be held in their home, beginning the 16th of December
and ending on the 24th, Christmas’ Eve. Every home is decorated with a
Nativity scene and the neighborhood children and adults are the Pilgrims who
have to request shelter by singing a chant. Only at the third home where they
ask to come in will they be given shelter. Here, they can then come in and
kneel down by the Nativity and pray the Rosary.
After
the prayer is finished, the party for the children begins. A piņata is brought
out for the kids, which they have to break while being blindfolded to reveal
the peanuts, oranges, tangerines, sugar canes, and wrapped hard candy. For the
adults, there are also goodies like Ponche, which is
a hot beverage like punch made with seasonal fruits and cinnamon sticks, with a
shot of alcohol to warm up the night!
