Community welcome at las posadas celebration

Intermountain Catholic

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?Las posadas' are a traditional Mexican celebration that starts nine days before Christmas. Shown are children enacting the posada last year at the Cathedral of the Madeleine. IC photo archive

SALT LAKE CITY – Parishes and missions all over the Diocese of Salt Lake City are making sure that everything is ready to celebrate posadas this Advent.

"We are excited that this time has come again," said Marina Jimenez, a parishioner of Saint Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Kearns.

Posadas are an important part of the Mexican Christmas tradition. The Spanish word "posada" means "inn" or "shelter," and these celebrations recreate Mary and Joseph’s search for a place to stay in Bethlehem. Posadas are held on each of the nine nights leading up to Christmas, from Dec. 16 to Dec. 24. The nine nights are said to represent the nine months that Jesus spent in Mary’s womb, or alternatively, to represent nine-day journey to Bethlehem.

The celebration consists of a procession with candles, sometimes with individuals selected to play the parts of Mary and Joseph. Other times, images of Jesus’ mother and earthly father are carried. The procession will make its way to a particular home (a different one each night), where a special song is sung.... "posada te piden estos peregrinos, que vienen cansados..." (Inn, we ask you as pilgrims, we have come very tired.)

While singing, those outside the house take the part of Joseph; the family inside responds as the innkeeper, saying that there is no room. The song switches back and forth a few times until finally the innkeeper decides to let them in. The door is opened and everyone goes inside.

Once inside the home, those participating in the posada kneel around the Nativity scene to pray the rosary. They include the litany, a series of praises for the Virgin Mary, plus singing traditional songs like "Holy Night" in Spanish.

After all the prayers comes a party for the children. There are piñatas filled with peanuts in the shell, oranges, tangerines, sugar canes, and occasionally wrapped hard candy.

Although the piñata was originally from Italy, it has become a Mexican tradition for celebrations where children are involved. The first piñatas were made of clay pots and decorated with colorful crepe paper, but today’s piñatas are made of cardboard and papier mache and decorated with crepe paper. This change was made to prevent the children from cutting their hands on the clay pieces when going for the fruit and candy after the piñata was broken.

The first posada this year in the diocese will be at the Cathedral of the Madeleine.

"I am bringing my kids to the Cathedral," said Juana Hernandez, a Cathedral parishioner. "I like how the celebration goes every year, the songs, the message of our bishop, the piñatas – I simply love everything and it’s a good tradition to share with my kids."