2. Each night from Dec. 16- Dec
Each night from Dec. 16- Dec. 24 people in Mexico gather together to celebrate Las Posadas.
Las Posadas is a celebration of Joseph and Mary’s journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem before the birth of the baby Jesus.
The celebration commemorates their search for room at the inn.

3. During Las Posadas, a procession is led through the neighborhoods of town, where families and friends re-enact Joseph and Mary’s pleas for lodging.
The streets are lined with lanterns; paper bags filled with candles. These are called luminarias or farolitos.

4. In the procession, they carry candles and are dressed as shepherds, angels and sometimes Mary and Joseph.
The procession is led by an angel.

5. The people go from door to door knocking until they are permitted to enter at the final house.
They sing songs along the way, such as “Pedir Posadas”.

6. Statues of Mary and Joseph are placed in the nacimiento, or nativity, at the home the people are permitted to enter; the last house.

7. Each night ends with a fiesta at the final home; often times including tamales, buñuelos (round pastries covered with sugar and cinnamon) and hot chocolate.

8. The party ends with the breaking of a piñata.
The piñatas are filled with candy, nuts and sometimes small toys.

9. The last posada is on Christmas Eve, or La Noche Buena.
The procession ends at the town church where they place the statue of the baby Jesus in the nacimiento at midnight.
The celebration is followed by La Misa de Gallo, (the mass of the rooster) or midnight mass.

10. Interesting Tidbits Las Posadas means “the inns” in English.
The nine nights of celebration represent Mary’s nine months of pregnancy.
The first Mexican Christmas was celebrated in 1538 by missionaries from Spain.

11. Feliz Navidad