The Historical Procession of Las Posadas

The familiar story of Joseph and Mary’s long-ago search for lodgings is related every year at Christmastime in churches and homes the world over. But in many Latin countries, it actually comes to life again each December, reenacted for nine consecutive nights in the festive ritual of Las Posadas, which means inns, or lodgings.

The idea of commemorating the Holy Family’s journey to Bethlehem can be traced to St. Ignatius Loyola, in the 16th Century. He suggested a Christmas novena, special prayers to be said on nine successive days. In 1850, St. John of the Cross made a religious pageant out of the proceedings, and seven years later the nine-day remembrance was introduced to the Indians in Mexico by Spanish missionaries.

Solemn and deeply religious in feeling at first, the observances soon became imbued with a spirit of fun and, eventually, left the church and began to be celebrated in people’s homes. The posadas have become community affairs with friends, relatives and neighbors sharing in the festivities and visiting a different house each evening.

The posada begins with a procession that sets off as soon as it gets dark. Often a child dressed as an angel goes first, followed by two more children carrying figures of Mary and Joseph on a small litter adorned with twigs. After more boys and girls come the lead figures, then come the grown-ups and last of all the musicians. Singing or chanting special posada songs, they all walk slowly along, each person carrying a lighted candle. When the procession reaches the house chosen for that evening, it divides into two groups, one representing the holy pilgrims, the other the innkeepers.

The pilgrims line up behind the angel and the children bearing the figures of the Holy Family, and they file through the house until they arrive at a closed door, behind which the innkeepers have stationed themselves. The pilgrims knock on the door and call out in song, asking for shelter. A chorus of voices on the other side asks: “Who knocks at my door so late in the night?”

The pilgrims respond. “In the name of Heaven I beg you for lodging – my beloved wife can no longer travel, and she is weary.” But the response is a stony, hardhearted refusal. “This is no inn. Go away!” After repeated requests for shelter, the pilgrims explain who they are and that Mary will soon give birth to the Son of God. The innkeepers relent and welcome the exhausted travelers: “Enter, holy pilgrims. Come into our humble dwelling and into our hearts. The night is one of joy, for here beneath our roof we shelter the Mother of God.”

Everyone enters the room and kneels in prayer, after which the party moves out to the patio for fireworks and fun. Small baskets of sweets, called colaciones, are offered along with sandwiches, cookies and a fruited punch – and then it’s time for the most exciting moment of all – the breaking of the fancifully decorated candy and nut-filled piñata. Sometimes there are separate parties for different age groups – one for teenagers and another for the younger children. In Mexico City, especially, so many posadas are held that active partygoers can manage to attend four or five in one evening … and the festivities often go on until dawn.

Over time, posadas have been tailored by their respective communities, so that a remarkable variety of posada styles can be found throughout Mexico and the Southwestern United States.

History of the Posada
Las Posadas