DOCSLIB.ORG

How to Celebrate Posadas Navideñas in Your Home • Cómo Celebrar Las Posadas Navideñas En Tu Casa

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
How to Celebrate Posadas Navideñas in Your Home • Cómo Celebrar Las Posadas Navideñas En Tu Casa How to Celebrate Posadas Navideñas in Your Home • Cómo Celebrar Las Posadas Navideñas en tu Casa Posadas commemorates the journey that Joseph and Mary made from Nazareth to Bethlehem in search of a safe refuge where Mary could give birth to the baby Jesus. When they were unable to find lodging in Bethlehem, Joseph and Mary were forced to seek shelter in a stable, where the Christ Child was born. Las Posadas conmemoran el viaje que José y María hicieron desde Nazaret hasta Belén en busca de un refugio seguro donde María pudiera dar a luz al niño Jesús. Cuando no pudieron encontrar alojamiento en Belén, José y María se vieron obligados a buscar refugio en un establo, donde nació el Niño Jesús. What is Posadas Navideñas? • ¿Qué significan Las Posadas Navideñas? From the words “posada” (inn) and “navidad” (nativity), the Posadas Navideñas is the centerpiece of Mexican Christmas traditions. For the nine days leading up to Christmas Day, December 16 to 24, Mexicans mark the Posadas with street processions reenacting how Joseph and Mary went from inn to inn in search of a place to stay for the birth of the Baby Jesus. It’s also a time for families to enjoy games, music, and revelry and, of course, traditional food, beverages, and desserts. Las Posadas begins with the reenactment of Mary and Joseph’s journey. For the journey you can dress up as Mary and Joseph and parade inside your house knocking on the doors or carry statues of Mary and Joseph while knocking on the doors. Remember to sing the Las Posadas song! (See SONG HERE) After the reenactment, a Rosary is said (See HOW TO HERE). Also the Nativity Story is read from the Bible. De la palabra “posada” (posada) y “navidad” (natividad), las Posadas Navideñas son la pieza central de las tradiciones navideñas mexicanas. Durante los nueve días previos al día de Navidad, del 16 al 24 de diciembre, los mexicanos celebran las Posadas con procesiones callejeras que recrean cómo José y María iban de posada en posada en busca de un lugar para quedarse hasta el nacimiento del Niño Jesús. Las Posadas comienzan con la recreación del viaje de María y José. Para el viaje puede vestirse como María y José y desfilar dentro de su casa llamando a las puertas, o llevar estatuas de María y José mientras golpea las puertas. ¡Recuerda cantar la canción de Las Posadas! (Ver CANCIÓN AQUÍ) Después de la recreación, se reza un Rosario (Ver CÓMO AQUÍ). También se lee la Historia de la Natividad de la Biblia. Decorations, Food, and Sweets for Posadas Navidenas • Decoraciones, Alimentos y Dulces para Posadas Navideñas In keeping with the story behind the Posadas, have at least these 2 key decorations: a piñata (or 2 or 3!) and farolitos or little lanterns. The piñatas traditionally used for the Posadas (8) are star-shaped, symbolizing the star of Bethlehem – but made with rainbow-colored ruffles, pointy cones, and fringe tassels. The other meaningful decoration are the luminaries or farolitos (5), suggesting the search for an inn on that first Christmas night. You can craft delightful ones out of paper bags, decorative punches, stick-on gems, and battery-powered tea lights! De acuerdo con la historia detrás de las Posadas, tenga al menos estas 2 decoraciones clave: una piñata (¡o 2 o 3!) Y farolitos o linternas. Las piñatas utilizadas tradicionalmente para las Posadas (8) tienen forma de estrella, que simboliza la estrella de Belén, pero están hechas con volantes de colores del arco iris, conos puntiagudos y flecos con flecos. La otra decoración significativa son las luminarias o farolitos (5), lo que sugiere la búsqueda de una posada en esa primera noche de Navidad. ¡Puede crear vistosos farolitos con bolsas de papel, perforadores decorativos, gemas adhesivas y velas de té que funcionan con baterías! A Must-have Posadas Menu • Un Menú de Posadas Imprescindible Now is your chance to have an all-Mexican Christmas menu just in time for Nochebuena. For your main dish, serve Posole, known as the Mexican Christmas dinner (7), a staple at Posadas Navideñas gatherings. It’s a rich soup with a base of hominy and pork, plus red chiles, shredded cabbage, radishes, cilantro, lime, and avocado. A meal in itself! The must-have beverage for this occasion is the Mexican holiday punch known as Ponche Navideño (2). It’s served hot and features an exotic blend of fruits like tejocotes, pears, and apples, plus orange juice, raisins, prunes, tamarind, hibiscus, star anise, cloves, sugar cane, and cinnamon sticks. For dessert, prepare popular Mexican sweets. One delicious choice would be Bunuelos (tortilla fritters or “elephant ears”) (4) which are flour tortillas fried till puffy and crisp, then dusted with a cinnamon-sugar mix and drizzled with honey. Also offer up Sweet Raisin Tamales (10), a dessert version of this Mexican favorite with a “masa” (filling) of pineapple, coconut, and pecans flavored with cinnamon and steamed in corn husks; the perfect pairing for these? Why, Champurrado or Mexican hot chocolate (3), of course! Ahora es tu oportunidad de tener un menú navideño totalmente mexicano justo a tiempo para la Nochebuena. Como plato principal, sirva Posole, conocida como la cena mexicana de Navidad (7), un alimento básico en las reuniones de Posadas Navideñas. Es una sopa rica a base de maíz y cerdo, además de chiles rojos, repollo rallado, rábanos, cilantro, lima y aguacate. ¡Una comida en sí misma! La bebida imprescindible para esta ocasión es el ponche navideño mexicano conocido como Ponche Navideño (2). Se sirve caliente y presenta una mezcla exótica de frutas como tejocotes, peras y manzanas, además de jugo de naranja, pasas, ciruelas, tamarindo, hibisco, anís estrellado, clavo, caña de azúcar y ramas de canela. Para el postre, prepare los populares dulces mexicanos. Una opción deliciosa serían los buñuelos (buñuelos de tortilla u "orejas de elefante") (4), que son tortillas de harina fritas hasta que estén hinchadas y crujientes, luego espolvoreadas con una mezcla de azúcar y canela y rociadas con miel. También ofrezca tamales de pasas dulces (10), una versión de este favorito postre mexicano es una "masa" (relleno) de piña, coco y nueces con sabor a canela y cocido al vapor en hojas de maíz. ¿El acompañante perfecto para estos postres? ¡Champurrado o chocolate caliente mexicano (3), por supuesto! More Posadas Ideas • Más Ideas para las Posadas More traditional sweets would make ideal favors. Think Mexican sugar cookies (1) that you can home-bake in pretty colors, like pink, yellow, and chocolate brown; and Colaciones, brightly multi- colored Posadas Navideñas sweets (6) sold in bulk at markets. Or package your own treat bags, called “Aguinaldo” (9), stuffed with candies, cookies, small fruits, and your choice of goodies! Los dulces más tradicionales son ideales para los aguinaldos (regalitos). Piense en las galletas de azúcar mexicanas (1) que puede hornear en casa en bonitos colores, como rosa, amarillo y marrón chocolate; y Colaciones, dulces tradicionales durante las Posadas Navideñas de colores brillantes (6) vendidos a granel en los mercados. ¡O empaque sus propias bolsas de golosinas, llamadas "aguinaldos" (9), rellenas de dulces, galletas, frutas pequeñas y su elección de golosinas! Feliz Navidad! .
Load more

Recommended publications
  • 1/6 Reading One Christmas Around the World Christmas in Australia
    Reading One Christmas around the world Christmas in Australia Adapted from an essay by Rodney Berry Christmas in Australia is always about 30° Celsius which is really hot. As the weather is so good, most Australian families go away and spend their holidays in a resort or on the beach. So ocean sports like swimming and surfing are always popular at Christmas. Christmas is casual here in Australia, people walk around in shorts and T-shirts. Everyone invites their friends and grandparents over for salad with cold meats, or a picnic, or even a barbecue. Unlike Christmas in other countries nobody has anything like a roast dinner or a turkey. When kids wake up on Christmas morning, they hurriedly toss off their sheet and race towards the plastic Christmas tree. All the presents are piled up under it. When the time comes to open the presents the kids tear off the paper and compare presents. When all of the presents have been opened they go outside and have a game of cricket or go to the beach for a swim. Source: http://www.zuzu.org/daze.html Christmas in El Salvador Adapted form an essay by Mirna Salgado Christmas in El Salvador is a time to spend with family. On Christmas day, everybody is always very busy. In the morning we wake up and prepare all the ingredients we need to cook the Christmas meal. For example, if the family is going to make tamales, they prepare the meat one day before. In my country, families celebrate this day in church, and after church we continue celebrating at home.
    [Show full text]
  • Misas De Aguinaldos, Posadas Y Paraduras En Venezuela
    Misas de aguinaldos, posadas y paraduras en Venezuela Fernando CAMPO DEL POZO, OSA Colegio San Agustín, Zaragoza I. Introducción sobre el por qué de este trabajo. II. Origen de la “misa de gallo” y del novenario de Navidad. III. Las misas de aguinaldos, con los agustinos, en México. IV. Las posadas y pastoradas con antecedentes en España. V. Celebración de las misas de aguinaldos en El Carmelo, Estado Zulia, Venezuela. VI. Las “paraduras” con otras fiestas en los Andes Venezolanos. 6.1. Problema con el tambor que se utilizaba en Mérida durante la colonia. 6.2. Paradura del Niño Jesús en el palacio arzobispal de Mérida en 2009. VII. Versos que se cantan en las paraduras de Mérida y otros lugares. VIII. Fiestas de de noche vieja, año nuevo y reyes magos. 8.1. Celebración de la noche vieja y año nuevo con ritos especiales. 8.2. La celebración de la fiesta de los reyes magos. IX. Conclusión. I. INTRODUCCIÓN SOBRE EL POR QUÉ DE ESTE TRABAJO Con más de cincuenta años de espera, se completa un trabajo que se inició cuando tuve la oportunidad de celebrar las primeras fiestas de la Navidad en Venezuela, concretamente en la parroquia de El Carmelo, Estado Zulia, a orillas el Lago de Maracaibo, en 1956. Me sorprendió la costumbre, que había de las misas de aguinaldo o de aguinaldos, como allí se decía, a partir del día 16 de diciembre, antes del amanecer. Acudían muchos fieles, algunos con caminatas de más de 8 km. Lo hacían muy contentos, en grupos, cantando villancicos o “aguinaldos”.
    [Show full text]
  • CHRISTMASES in CALIFORNIA by Richard Amero Christmases Have
    CHRISTMASES IN CALIFORNIA by Richard Amero Christmases have always touched the heart. So it was during California's first Christmases; so it is today. Father Juan Crespi wrote the earliest known descriptions of Christmases in Alta California. They can be found in the diary he kept while accompanying Governor Gaspar de Portola on his search in 1769 for Monterey. The December 24 entry reads: "On this day before Christmas . we set out in the morning on the same road by which we came. The march covered three leagues, and we halted on the same spot as on the 10th of September, which was in the valley of El Osito de San Buenaventura. It was God's will that we should celebrate the Nativity joyfully, which was done in this way: more than two hundred heathen of both sexes came to visit us in this place, bringing us Christmas gifts, for many of them came with good baskets of pinole and some fish, with which everybody supplied himself, so that we had something with which to celebrate Christmas Day. Blessed be the providence of God, who succors us more than we deserve! These gifts were returned with beads, which pleased them greatly." . Francisco Palou, Historical Memoirs of New California, V. 2, Berkeley, University of California Press, 1926, p. 245. The entry, December 25, was not so joyful: "On this day of the Nativity of Our Lord we could not celebrate in any other manner than by saying Mass. The cold is so biting that it gives us good reason to meditate upon what the infant Jesus, who was born this day in Bethlehem, suffered for us.
    [Show full text]
  • Las Posadas Peregrinación Hacia Navidad Journeying Together Toward Christmas Inicio/Home | Contenido/Table of Contents
    Las Posadas Peregrinación Hacia Navidad Journeying Together toward Christmas Inicio/Home | Contenido/Table of Contents Contenido/Table of Contents Introducción �������������������������������������4 Introduction ��������������������������������������5 Christmas Novena Novena Navideña Primer Día �������������������������������������������6 Day One ����������������������������������������������7 Segundo Día ����������������������������������������8 Day Two ����������������������������������������������9 Tercer Día ������������������������������������������10 Day Three ������������������������������������������11 Cuarto Día �����������������������������������������12 Day Four �������������������������������������������13 Quinto Día �����������������������������������������14 Day Five ��������������������������������������������15 Sexto Día �������������������������������������������16 Day Six ����������������������������������������������17 Séptimo Día ��������������������������������������18 Day Seven �����������������������������������������19 Octavo Día ����������������������������������������20 Day Eight ������������������������������������������21 Noveno Día ���������������������������������������22 Day Nine �������������������������������������������23 Cantos de Adviento/Advent Songs Emmanuel, Oh Rey de Gloria/Emmanuel, O King of Glory (Sosa) ���������������������32 Éxodo y Liberación (Gabaráin) ����������������������������������������������������������������������������39 Las Posadas (Tradicional) Letra Solamente/Text–only ����������������������������������������24
    [Show full text]
  • Las Posadas (Mexico, Guatemala and Other Central American Countries)
    Me llamo __________________________ Fecha _____________ Read the following passages about Hispanic holiday celebrations this time of year. Then write the dates for each holiday in the Spanish format (date/ month/ year). Can you write out the months as well? (ex. el 3 de febrero) Las Posadas (Mexico, Guatemala and other Central American countries). Las Posadas commemorate the journey of Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem and their search for a place to stay. The word posada means inn. Family and friends visit one another in their homes and enjoy conversations and traditional foods, and visitors sing carols. The holiday takes place from December 16 – December 24 each year. Colombians celebrate a similar holiday called La Novena and for nine days. Families pray and sing traditional carols. La Nochebuena (Christmas Eve, December 24) y la Navidad (Christmas, December 25). In many Catholic countries, people attend midnight mass (la misa del gallo – the rooster mass!) on Christmas Eve. Preparing traditional foods is also an integral part of the holiday. Mexicans get together for a tamalada or a tamal- making session. A tamal is usually made of shredded pork and corn meal called masa, and tucked into a corn shuck or leaf. Puerto Ricans prepare pasteles puertorriqueños which are encased in plantain leaves and stuffed with black beans, pork, raisins, and other ingredients. Cubans often have a lechón asado, a roasted pork dish. In Perú, they celebrate with hot chocolate and panettone, an Italian sweetbread. Presents are not exchanged on this day. In España, the more common traditions include incredibly elaborate "Nacimientos" (nativity scenes), Christmas trees, and remarkable Christmas markets scattered among villages and cities with piles of fruits, flowers, marzipan and other sweets, candles, decorations and hand-made Christmas gifts.
    [Show full text]
  • Bringing Jesus to Your Neighbors: a Las Posadas Family Activity
    Bringing Jesus to your Neighbors: a Las Posadas family activity In Mexico and other Latin American cultures, the nine days leading up to Christmas What to do: are celebrated by a re-enactment of Mary and Joseph’s search for an inn or Learn about this tradition as a family. Talk about how it is important to share “posada.” Families process from house to house. At the final house they are wel- the light and love of Jesus with others. This activity is one way to do that. comed in – with the way lit by candle luminaries – for a party! For more details of how Las Posadas are celebrated, take a look at this family’s way of living them. As a family, prepare the gift bags for your neighbors with the card (signed by everybody in the family – maybe you even include your house number), As such gatherings may not possible this year (perhaps outdoors is feasible?), simp- materials, and treat — perhaps while sipping cocoa? ly use the tradition as the inspiration for an “excuse” to reach out to your neighbors Say a simple prayer together before going with the hope and love of the Christ Child, a novena of outreach. Loving God, you sent Jesus, the out on your adventure. and smile! Carry Light of the World, to be close to Adapt this idea however your family wants to do it, and have fun with it! Decide the figures of Mary and Joseph and can- us and to show us how to live how many of the nine nights you will go out through the neighborhood and to how dles.
    [Show full text]
  • The Star Catholic Curriculum
    Movie Artwork: ©2017 SPAI. All Rights Reserved IN THEATERS NOVEMBER 17 CATHOLIC CURRICULUM NATIONAL CONFERENCE FOR CATECHETICAL LEADERSHIP 415 Michigan Ave | Washington, DC 20017 | nccl.org TABLE OF CONTENTS The National Conference of Catechetical Leadership presents lessons inspired by THE STAR. THE CHRISTMAS STORY Explore the parts of the Christmas Story as inspired by THE STAR. DIVINE PROVIDENCE Reflect on Divine Providence as inspired byTHE STAR. FRIENDSHIP Explore friendship in Scripture, among the Saints, and in THE STAR. PRAYER Reflect on prayer. LAS POSADAS Learn about Joseph’s and Mary’s journey and the tradition of Las Posadas. VOCATION Explore vocations as inspired by THE STAR. THE STAR – CATHOLIC CURRICULUM | NATIONAL CONFERENCE FOR CATECHETICAL LEADERSHIP Movie Artwork: ©2017 SPAI. All Rights Reserved 2 LESSON 1 THE CHRISTMAS STORY And behold, the star that they had seen at its rising preceded them, until it came and stopped over the place where the child was. ~ MATTHEW 2:9 THE WORD BECAME FLESH BE CREATIVE NOTE TO LEADERS AND PARENTS This lesson may be adapted for use with various groups. There are four sections: PRAYER, LEARN, REFLECT, ACT. You may rearrange components of the sections to fit your family’s/ group’s needs. Be creative and have fun with the prayers, reflections, and activities as you strengthen the relationships in your family/community! St. Francis of Assisi celebrated the birth of Jesus by creating a Christmas manger scene in a stable on Christmas Eve in 1223. Since then, Christmas Creches or Nativity Scenes have been displayed in churches and homes. THE STAR – CATHOLIC CURRICULUM | NATIONAL CONFERENCE FOR CATECHETICAL LEADERSHIP Movie Artwork: ©2017 SPAI.
    [Show full text]
  • Las Posadas Celebrate
    Las Posadas Celebrate. Engage. Reach Out. A Handbook For Churches Created by Fiesta Cristiana Posadas Handbook 1 a Faith Community of Apex United Methodist Church Contents Introduction: It’s a Party! 2 Background: What is Las Posadas? 4 How we got started at Apex/Fiesta Cristiana 5 A Basic Outline of Activities 5 A Suggested Schedule 6 Assembling Needed Resources 10 a. Music 10 b. Musicians 11 c. Costumes 13 d. Battery-powered Candles 14 e. Piñatas 15 f. Publicity 16 g. Organizing Volunteers 17 h. Preparing Las Posadas Kits 19 Other Resources (Internet, Books) 20 Appendix 21 Sample Press Release 21 Sample News Article 22 Sample FAQs for the Church 24 Sample Poster/Advertising Slide 27 Sample Newspaper Add 28 Sample Lesson Plans 29 Sample Songbook 31 Posadas Handbook 2 Introduction: It’s a Party! In the beginning was Las Posadas! Indeed, the story of Fiesta Cristiana, the Spanish speaking faith community of Apex United Methodist Church in Apex NC, started in 2008 with Las Posadas celebrations. Since then, Las Posadas has been celebrated faithfully at Apex United Methodist Church by our Spanish-speaking members along with our English speaking members and others in the Apex community. Families with their children assemble each night for nine nights to anticipate the birth of Jesus Christ. To guide others outside of Apex to have as much fun as we have had with this Advent celebration, we have assembled this handbook. It contains an outline of activities and resources for churches, families, and other small groups. It is free of charge, and may be reproduced without permission.
    [Show full text]
  • Christmas Social Gather
    LAS Posadas CHRISTMAS SOCIAL LIFE NIGHT OUTLINE GOAL PRE-PLANNING The goal of this Social Night is for the teens to grow Prior to the night, find two people to take on in community by celebrating Christmas together. the role of Mary and Joseph. They could be Core They will also learn about the Mexican tradition of Members, teens, or a couple from the parish. They “Las Posadas.” should be dressed for the part. ABOUT THIS NIGHT ENVIRONMENT This night is set in the town of Bethlehem. Set up your main meeting space like the town Everyone gets to play a part in the Christmas story of Bethlehem. Create nine simple storefronts, as a shepherd, angel, or magi. The Gather has two homes, workshops, and/or hotels out of butcher games played in small groups that break open paper or cardboard boxes, and put them around the Christmas narrative from the Gospels. The the perimeter of the room. The town will be a Proclaim gives a short explanation of the Hispanic life-size board game; so people should be able tradition of Las Posadas. During the Break, another to walk from one “building” to another. Label the game is used, based on the idea of Las Posadas first “building” on one end of the room “Start.” At and traditional Christmas carols. The night ends the other end of the town, create a manger scene. with snacks and fellowship time for all. Label it as “End.” During the Break, Core Members will be stationed at each building dressed as a resident of Bethlehem.
    [Show full text]
  • St. Gabriel & Prince of Peace Catholic Churches
    St. Gabriel & Prince of Peace Catholic Churches www.stgabepop.org December 20, 2020 - 4th Sunday of Advent / 4º Domingo de Adviento St. Gabriel Mass Schedule Tuesday/Wednesday/Friday: 11:00 AM (limit 20 people) Saturday: 6:30 PM (limit 90 people) Sunday: 8:00 AM (limit 90 people) 11:00 AM (limit 90 people) Prince of Peace Mass Schedule Thursday (Jueves) at 10:00 AM (limit 20 people) Pastor Saturday (Sabado) at 4:30 PM (limit 50 people) Fr. Phuong V. Hoang Sunday (Domingo) at 9:30 AM (limit 50 people) Deacon Baptismal Preparation John Ricciardi: [email protected] To make arrangements to attend baptismal preparation class please call the Faith Formation Office. Staff: Pastoral Associate for Administration Sacramental Preparation Kurt Lawrence: [email protected] To sign up for First Reconciliation, First Eucharist or Confirmation classes, please contact the Faith Formation Office. These classes Assistant Pastoral Associate for Administration and require 2 years of preparation. Financial/Contribution Questions Sarah McLellan: [email protected] Sacrament of Reconciliation Individual confessions every Saturday at 6:00 PM or by appoint- Receptionists [email protected] ment. Kathryn “Kate” Piatt (AM) Catherine “Katie” Knoelke (PM) Marriage Preparation Please contact the office 1 year prior to the anticipated wedding Pastoral Assistant for Faith Formation date before making other arrangements. Please contact Deacon Maria Murphree: [email protected] John Ricciardi. Faith Formation Secretary Care of the Sick and Anointing Sharon Lajoie: [email protected] Communal anointing of the sick is scheduled on the First Wednes- Director of Music day of the month at the 11:00 AM daily Mass.
    [Show full text]
  • UCC WW Las Posadas
    Advent Season, December 3-24, 2006 Las Posadas: On the Road with Mary and Joseph All-Church Christmas Pageant How to use this resource This Las Posadas Pageant is basically a procession with Carols that moves from station to station; it is written to be used on one night, at a local church location, but it may be adapt- ed for use in many ways. At each Posada, or Inn, Mary and Joseph ask for shelter, and their companions — immigrants, refugees, seekers — tell their stories and ask for shelter, too. At each Posada they are refused, and the company moves on to the next Posada, until finally the Holy Family is recognized, and they and their friends are welcomed in with celebration. Some adaptations: One church may want to stage the pageant entirely within the sanctuary, to accommodate members who have difficulties in moving around. Another church may want to spread the procession out over the four Sundays of Advent, and conclude each week with the recognition of the Holy Family and increasingly festive celebrations. A group of local churches may collaborate, each sponsoring a couple of “Posadas,” again concluding at each place with recognition and celebration. It may be adapted to be more like the traditional structure described below, celebrated over multiple nights and visiting different homes. Although the traditional number of stations is nine, a church may want to do fewer stations. If there is an ethnic or social group in your church that is not represented in this liturgy, you are encouraged to write or adapt a reading that would include them and allow them to tell their unique story of immigration or search for refuge.
    [Show full text]
  • Las Posadas Y Las Pastorelas
    Las Posadas y Las Pastorelas Originally published in El Defensor Chieftain newspaper, Saturday,December 6, 2008 century, undue criticism of the King was highly Head photo on GRFX layer frowned upon, resulting in a few minstrels losing their heads. In spite of being rather amateurish, (and for By Paul Harden, [email protected] some, dangerous) these minstrels and traveling plays For El Defensor Chieftain became a popular form of entertainment. During this time, the early Roman Catholic church Most every New Mexican agrees that the Land of began to employ short plays — not for entertainment, Enchantment is a special place to be for the holidays. but education. At a time when Mass was conferred Luminarias, posole, empañadas, Las Posadas primarily in Latin, which few parishioners understood, processions and the Pastorela performances are these short plays proved to be effective in teaching the centuries-old traditions that arrived with the early bible stories and church doctrine to people of all Spanish colonists and Franciscans. They are traditions languages. In the 1200s, these church plays, or that remain to this day. pastorelas, had spread to the churches in Spain. This article looks at some of the history of these unique By the 1400s, theatrical performances had become an New Mexico traditions. industry. William Shakespeare, for example, wrote his famous plays in the late 1500s. Certainly you La Pastorela remember his famous words — "Romeo, donde esta?" (Romeo, Romeo, where art thou?). Pastorela is a play or theatrical performance. Specific to Christmas, "La Pastorela" is a play centered around The popularity of these plays lured the church plays the pastores (shepherds) as they traveled to Bethlehem into the public arena, particularly for Christmas, Lent to find the baby Jesus.
    [Show full text]