Las Posadas Celebraciones
Las Posadas is a Spanish word that means inn. Las Posadas commemorates the journey of Joseph and Mary looking for a place to spend the night at the time Jesus was born and has become a Mexican tradition in the celebration of Christmas. In this way, they relive the nativity of the Lord.
For nine days before Christmas, people repeat the celebration. Through prayers and drama, people experience the taste of uncertainty of not finding a place to stay, and the joy of a newborn king of kings.
The people enact the journey of asking for lodging, by singing the petition. Each time the people inside refuse them, until at last they arrive at the final inn and there they receive posada, concluding with prayers and songs of joy.
Las Posadas have four main parts:
- The prophecies. The prophets predicted the coming of the Messiah. In the posadas, they describe the story by reading lessons from the Bible.
- The Procession and Litany. People process with lighted candles from house to house. Some people advance quickly and situate themselves within at the first stop. The second group of people process, singing as they go. When they arrive at the station, they knock at the door and begin singing, “Para Pedir Posada.” Inside, the first group responds. They repeat the procedure until people arrive at the last station, which usually is the church.
- The last Posada and Liturgy. At the last station, the angels and the first group of singers go inside, close the door and wait for the rest of the people. The outside people begin to sing. When Joseph and Mary ask for lodging and the doors are opened, everyone goes into the church (home or place) singing. Joseph and Mary go to the front of the altar. The angels stand behind them and the shepherds sit in from of them. The other people stand by the pews. They welcome the peregrinos (pilgrims) with songs which they sing as everyone enters the place of the posada.
- The feast and piñatas. Finally, there is a fiesta with piñata. Hot chocolate and other appropriate foods are served. The children try to break open the piñata. The original & traditional piñata has seven points symbolizing the seven deadly sins: envy, sloth, gluttony, greed, lust, anger/wrath, and pride. The stick which is used to break the pinata represents and symbolizes love, which always helps us in our struggle to get the sins out of our lives.
THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF ST. PHILIP THE APOSTLE
IS CELEBRATING LA POSADA ON
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2021
7:OO PM
ALL ARE INVITED
THERE IS GOING TO BE FOOD AND DRINKS
PROVIDED BY THE PEOPLE OF ST. PHILIP’S AND FRIENDS.
IF YOU WANT TO PARTICIPATE, YOU MAY BRING A GIFT FOR A ‘SPIRIT-LED GIFT EXCHANGE’. IT WILL BE FUN!