Las Posadas, , -24 Las Posadas celebration retells the story of . Posada means inn, lodging, and hospitality. When Joseph and Mary arrived in Bethlehem, they needed a place to stay but there was none because so many people had come to town to be counted during the census. Beginning December 16 and going to December 24, people in Mexican villages have a procession carrying models of Mary and Joseph around town. At different houses they ask for lodging or a place to stay (posada in Spanish) just as Mary and Joseph did in Bethlehem. As the procession goes from house to house, at each house they are told that there is no lodging. Finally, at the last house, the entire procession is invited in. Everyone then sings carols and they have a party with traditional foods, including . Usually there is a piñata for the children. This goes on for the nine nights before Christmas. Each night a different house is chosen to host the party.

Christmas Eve Posada – parking lot versions

COVID still has the country in its grip but we want to celebrate Christmas together. Here is an idea your church might try.

• In your church parking lot, set up stations with several cars or tables to represent houses in a village. Decorate as much or as little as you would like. • Create a platform with Mary, Joseph, and a donkey. • Pick a couple of people to carry the platform. It can be the same people the whole time or change the porters after each stop. • Pick speakers. Again, it can be the same ones for the procession or they can change each time. Have 1-2 people at each station. • Put the porters and platform at the head of a physically-distanced procession with everyone wearing masks. Walk to the first station. • Improvise a conversations such as this: Joseph: We are looking for a place to stay. Host: There is no room. (No hay posada.) Mary: Please we have come far and are so tired. Host: There is not room. (No hay posada.) • Sing a posada song or . • Move to the next station and repeat. • Continue in a similar way for all stations until the last one. • Then the conversations will be something similar to: Joseph: We are looking for a place to stay. Host: There is no room. (No hay posada.) Mary: Please we have come far and are so tired. Host: There is not room. (No hay posada.) Joseph: Is there no place that we can stay? Host: Well, there is space in the barn. Mary: We would gladly accept that. Host: Come in. Welcome. • At this point a joyful Christmas carol or two could be sung. Share food (to take or to eat there depending on your COVID requirements).

A Few Resources • Posadas in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, with traditional song lyrics in English and Spanish. http://www.experience-san-miguel-de-allende.com/posada-song.html (Next links sing it in Spanish) • Traditional Posada Song, in Spanish. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WeZya2R9uNI • Traditional Posada Song, in Spanish, with words on screen, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1TjL2fg1EIA • Traditional Posada Song, by Los Tres Tristes Tigres, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sLZd13vE4cc • Posada Song by Santana, instrumental, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WQhTDgv_Uds • Two men sing traditional Posada song in English, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=220aQS9Wdko • Typical Christmas Songs, in Spanish, (1 hour’s worth) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LGvjWAonSBA • Silent Night (Noche de Paz), in Spanish with lyrics, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dj7ZKyUnjdw&list=PLPEtuiyFQTzt8RswDkNd874M 8xTUUWRj9 • Posadas acted out with explanation and mariachi band, Coro Luz de las Naciones, in Spanish, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bHUXsyNSQ84 • Posada/Pinata Song, made for 4th graders, in English with lyrics on screen, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=veL3vRPF5BU • Eddie G explaining Posadas in English, with videos, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oeh4-HHpJ7s