Las Posadas
During the time of the Aztecs in Mexico, they celebrated the arrival of one of their gods. He would visit from the 7th to 26th of what is now December.
When the Spanish arrived in Mexico, they brought Catholic priests with them. It was their job to teach the natives about Christianity. Some of the natives already put on little plays to recreate important historic events and things that happened in real life. The priests decided to use these plays to introduce Christian customs to the natives.
The word posada means "inn." The Spanish priests celebrated Las Posadas as a time to remember how Mary and Joseph had searched for a place to stay before the birth of their son, Jesus. To teach this story to the natives of Mexico, they had the children and some adults act out the story. This was called a pastorela. The custom has survived hundreds of years.
Many Hispanic towns celebrate Las Posadas from the 16th of December until the 24th of December. One home is chosen to host the festivities. Groups of people, young and old, take to the street on an evening of one of those days. They carry candles. Sometimes they carry carved images of Mary and Joseph. Sometimes two of the people dress as Mary and Joseph. They go to the home that will host the party. They sing a carol to the people of the house. The carol asks that they be allowed to enter. The people in the house sing back to the group. They tell them that the house is not an inn. There is no room for them to stay there.
Many verses of the carol are sung back and forth. The people inside finally let the group into their home. That is when the party can begin. More carols are sung. Food is eaten. Games are played.
One of the favorite games at the celebration is breaking the piñata. A piñata is a paper covered container filled with sweets and presents. It is usually made to resemble an animal. It is believed that Marco Polo brought the idea of the piñata to Europe from China. To some people, breaking the piñata symbolizes the fight of good over evil. Breaking the piñata breaks the spell of evil and brings gifts to all.
It isn't easy to break a piñata. The piñata is tied to a rope, which is thrown over a tree branch or hung from a tall pole. It is lifted up and lowered by the person holding the rope. The piñata is kept moving while the person trying to break it swings a stick. Young children are allowed to try first. They can watch the piñata as they try to hit it. Adults try when the children are through. They must cover their eyes with a blindfold. Eventually someone breaks the piñata. Everyone runs to get treats from the broken animal.
Dinner usually comes after the games have been enjoyed. Tamales are a common food found at these parties. Tamales are meat or vegetables wrapped in a corn husk and simmered in a warm sauce. Children love bunuelos for dessert. Imagine a thin version of an elephant ear topped with sugar. They have fruit punch to drink. After all, this is a special time.
No guest leaves the Las Posadas celebration without a gift. The host gives out small gift bags filled with cookies, fruit, and candy. More carols are sung as the visitors leave. Now the carols tell of the birth of Jesus. The guests take the part of the angels spreading the good news to the shepherds. A figure of the baby is placed in a nacimiento or nativity scene.
Celebrations like this continue until December 25. On this day, many follow the tradition of going to mass at the Catholic Church. They bring family and friends together for another feast.
When the Spanish arrived in Mexico, they brought Catholic priests with them. It was their job to teach the natives about Christianity. Some of the natives already put on little plays to recreate important historic events and things that happened in real life. The priests decided to use these plays to introduce Christian customs to the natives.
The word posada means "inn." The Spanish priests celebrated Las Posadas as a time to remember how Mary and Joseph had searched for a place to stay before the birth of their son, Jesus. To teach this story to the natives of Mexico, they had the children and some adults act out the story. This was called a pastorela. The custom has survived hundreds of years.
Many Hispanic towns celebrate Las Posadas from the 16th of December until the 24th of December. One home is chosen to host the festivities. Groups of people, young and old, take to the street on an evening of one of those days. They carry candles. Sometimes they carry carved images of Mary and Joseph. Sometimes two of the people dress as Mary and Joseph. They go to the home that will host the party. They sing a carol to the people of the house. The carol asks that they be allowed to enter. The people in the house sing back to the group. They tell them that the house is not an inn. There is no room for them to stay there.
Many verses of the carol are sung back and forth. The people inside finally let the group into their home. That is when the party can begin. More carols are sung. Food is eaten. Games are played.
One of the favorite games at the celebration is breaking the piñata. A piñata is a paper covered container filled with sweets and presents. It is usually made to resemble an animal. It is believed that Marco Polo brought the idea of the piñata to Europe from China. To some people, breaking the piñata symbolizes the fight of good over evil. Breaking the piñata breaks the spell of evil and brings gifts to all.
It isn't easy to break a piñata. The piñata is tied to a rope, which is thrown over a tree branch or hung from a tall pole. It is lifted up and lowered by the person holding the rope. The piñata is kept moving while the person trying to break it swings a stick. Young children are allowed to try first. They can watch the piñata as they try to hit it. Adults try when the children are through. They must cover their eyes with a blindfold. Eventually someone breaks the piñata. Everyone runs to get treats from the broken animal.
Dinner usually comes after the games have been enjoyed. Tamales are a common food found at these parties. Tamales are meat or vegetables wrapped in a corn husk and simmered in a warm sauce. Children love bunuelos for dessert. Imagine a thin version of an elephant ear topped with sugar. They have fruit punch to drink. After all, this is a special time.
No guest leaves the Las Posadas celebration without a gift. The host gives out small gift bags filled with cookies, fruit, and candy. More carols are sung as the visitors leave. Now the carols tell of the birth of Jesus. The guests take the part of the angels spreading the good news to the shepherds. A figure of the baby is placed in a nacimiento or nativity scene.
Celebrations like this continue until December 25. On this day, many follow the tradition of going to mass at the Catholic Church. They bring family and friends together for another feast.
|
|