Las Posadas

Mexico is a country that is full of many beautiful and different traditions. Las Posadas is one of the many traditions celebrated throughout Mexico from December 16-24. Las posadas are a remarkably beautiful build up to Christmas Eve. This tradition is perhaps the most beautiful and unique tradition celebrated in Mexico. Las posadas are a reenactment of the hardship Mary and Joseph went through to find a place to stay where Jesus could be born. Usually this tradition is celebrated around your neighborhood, each home in the neighborhood schedules a night that the posada could be held at their home.

            
Many different countries celebrate Las Posadas such as Spain, Peru, Guatemala, Ecuador, Colombia and Puerto Rico, but Mexico is the country where this tradition is mainly celebrated. Typically all guest gather outside of the home where La posada will be held. One child is chose to dress as an angel. This child leads other children that are wearing silver and gold costumes also followed by the adults and musicians. Everyone sings the traditional melody, walking around the neighborhood house to house requesting for shelter but are denied. When they reach the house that was assigned to act as the innkeepers, where Mary and Joseph are let in. By the people playing this out they are reenacting all the hardship Mary and Joseph went through to find shelter where Jesus could later be born at. After the reenactment is finished and are let in the fun begins.

        

    This beautiful and unique tradition is full of food, drinks, fireworks and candy for all. In Posadas food is up most important. Each home in the neighborhood plans ahead of time what they will be serving. No family serves the same dish as another. The only thing that every house in the neighborhood serves that is alike is el Ponche (punch). This punch is uniquely made with various different types of fruits, and could be served hot or cold. Every dish served is a common Mexican dish such as Empanadas, quesadillas, sandwiches and tamales. Each house offers an aginaldo (candy bag) which contain cookies, fruit and traditional Mexican candy.

The piñata is the last thing done at the end of the night of a posada. The traditional Mexican piñata is a star with seven spikes, made of paper-Mache and ceramic clay. The seven spikes signify seven sins that you have made; by beating the piñata you are destroying those seven sins. Each piñata is filled differently; some piñatas are filled with money, fruit and flower as a joke.

This tradition is yearly celebrated in many countries but mainly in Mexico. This tradition is a reenactment of the trouble Mary and Joseph went through to find a place where they can give birth to there child Jesus. In Mexico this cultural tradition is celebrated from 16-24 of December. Mexicans celebrate Las Posadas by having a large dinner, lighting fire works, singing melodies and ending the night by breaking a piñata.