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The Posadas (Spanish for inn, lodging, or shelter) is a candlelight procession and celebration. In Mexico and some parts of Central America, Colombia, Venezuela, and Ecuador, it is traditional to hold Posadas during the nine days before Christmas, beginning December 16 and ending December 24. The Posadas are a reenactment of Mary and Joseph’s long, frustrating search for a place where Jesus could be born. Children traditionally dress up as the Holy Family or bear processional figures and go from door to door, asking for shelter. The tradition re-enacts the story told in Luke 2:1-7—but with a twist: a happy ending with the “innkeeper” welcoming Mary and Joseph into the home. We learn from the Posadas that by welcoming the poor and the needy, we are welcoming Jesus into our midst. (See Matthew 25:40.)
Like many churches in the United States, we have adapted the Las Posadas to be a one-night event. In years past we have celebrated Las Posadas sometime during Advent as a one-off event, but this year we are trying something different. This year, we will incorporate this cherished tradition into our Christmas Eve Family Service and make it bilingual.
All are invited to join us for “Room in the Inn”: A Bilingual Las Posadas Celebration on Friday, December 24th at 5 pm in the Nave of the Cathedral.
A Christmas Invitation
All are invited to join us for “Room in the Inn”: A Las Posadas Christmas Eve celebration on Friday, December 24th at 5 pm in the Nave of the Cathedral. The first part of the service will include a procession where children carrying figures of the Holy Family and dressed as angels will knock and ask for shelter and get rejected three times, moving from one door to the next. Finally, we will joyfully welcome the Holy Pilgrims in our midst, with the Posadas procession moving into the church, down the center aisle, ending at the creche where the nativity figures will be placed. Procession participants will take their seats and we will continue with Holy Communion. Children will be invited to break open a traditional Posadas piñata in the Queen’s Courtyard after the service. We hope you will join us for the bilingual, bicultural celebration of the birth of our Savior. May the story of Las Posadas remind us that when we welcome the immigrant and stranger in our midst, God is with us.
Frequently asked questions
- How can my family and I get involved?
- Las Posadas Decorating Event: On Monday, December 20th from 4-6pm in the Great Hall we will prepare for Las Posadas by painting the Nativity figures and making traditional luminarias (paper bags filled with sand and LED lights). Dinner will be provided afterwards to volunteers. To ensure we purchase enough food, an RSVP would be appreciated. Click here to RSVP. Questions? Contact Maya Little-Saña.
- We will need statue bearers, angels, and lots of help setting and cleaning up! Sign you or your family up to be a part of the procession or the volunteer team here. You will still be able to participate without signing up, but it helps us know how many participants to expect.
- Just show up! We will have lots of opportunities to jump into the action the day of the event. However you engage in the celebration, we will be happy to have you.
- Will there be singing?
- Yes! At each door, the pilgrims will ask for shelter by singing a traditional Posadas carol, and the congregation will respond as the “innkeepers” and reject them. We will have very talented musicians leading us in song, since this may be a new one for many of us. We will also sing other carols like “O Come, All Ye Faithful”.
- Are masks required?
- Yes. All attendees over the age of 2 must be wearing a mask for the duration of the service, except when briefly pulled down to consume the Bread of Communion.
- Do I have to accompany my child on the procession?
- Yes. We ask that at least one adult accompany their child on the procession for safety reasons. You will have the best perspective to take adorable photos, too!
- Can I save my seat during the procession?
- Yes! Participants will be given “reserved/reservado” signs to place on their seats during the procession.
- How can I prepare?
- Try learning the Posadas song ahead of time! Click here for a video of the song in English and click here for the Spanish version (we will sing both).
- To learn more about how this tradition is celebrated, check out these sites:
- The Forward Movement page on the Posadas: www.VenAdelante.org/posadas.
- Wikipedia article: http://bit.ly/1LOkFQo.
- Article at MexConnect: http://bit.ly/1NVd2di.
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