Picture this. Every evening during the last nine days before Christmas, a great crowd forms in the village streets.
A small child dressed as an angel leads the figures of Joseph, Mary, and the donkey. Behind the figures, a procession follows made up of townspeople carrying candles and musicians playing carols.
The procession stops at different homes, where scriptures are read and traditional songs are sung, begging shelter for poor Mary and Joseph. At each stop, the people in the homes sing a traditional response refusing Mary and Joseph because there is “no room at the inn.”
Finally, on Christmas Eve, Mary and Joseph find a home with an open door and a welcome.
The angel, Mary, and Joseph enter in and gather around a large cradle. The villagers follow and kneel around the nativity scene to pray. In the cradle, a figure of the infant Jesus is placed on a bed of straw and gently rocked while everyone around sings a traditional lullaby.
After songs and prayers, everyone gathers together for a huge celebration with carols, feasting, firecrackers, and in some countries, a piñata.
This tradition, celebrated all over the world is known by many different names; Las Posadas (The Inns), Golden Nights, and Seeking Shelter. It begins nine days before Christmas and it is a reentactment of the journey of Mary and Joseph from Nazareth to Bethlehem.
Ways to Celebrate
Before your evening devotion, assemble the family and sing advent songs as you process the creche figures of Mary, Joseph, and the donkey into the living room. Put the figures in a special place of honor and light a candle next to them. Remind your children that you are trying to create an atmosphere of consideration and unselfishness for Mary and Joseph.
Or you could allow each of your children to make up for the harsh treatment that the holy couple received by hosting the figures in their room for the day. Instead of processing the figures in the living room, process them to the door of the first child’s room while singing Advent songs. Explain to your children that when it is their turn, they should do everything possible to create a warm and loving atmosphere for Mary and Joseph. Suggest cleaning their room, clearing a spot on their dresser for the figures, placing fresh evergreens around the figures, or ribbons, etc.
Read a book about Las Posadas. I love this one by Taomie dePaola. The illustrations are beautiful and it is such a sweet story!
Make a traditional Mexican feast of tamales and cinnamon sugar fritters called buñuelos. Yum!
the recipes -
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