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The "Posadas" - A 400-Year
Old Tradition
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By Maria Elena
http://mariaelena-art.hypermart.net/
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Very soon after the twelve days
of the "Guadalupana" pilgrimages to the Virgin of Guadalupe
end, Mexicans begin the twelve days of Christmas, and
with them begin the "posadas".
Literally translated, posada means
an "inn", like the one in which Mary and
Joseph were seeking lodging on the Holy Night. In actual
fact, it has come to mean a series of visits to the "inn" of
friends and neighbors, within the challenge of vanquishing
capital sins as expressed in the beating and subsequent
breaking of piñatas .
The tradition of posadas in
Mexico is believed to have begun in the XVIth century,
with the arrival of the Spanish monks whose mission
was to preach the Gospel. In ancient times, someone's
death was remembered a few days prior to their day
of birth - thus the novenaria or novena - the nine-day
period leading up to Christmas and the date of birth
of Christ. With time, celebrations left the churches
and convents to go out onto the streets in a mixture
of the profane and the religious.
 The
popular tradition is to offer a place for pilgrims
- complete with chants and prayers - along a symbolic
route or journey. Once the voyagers (or pilgrims) are
let in and welcomed, they proceed to the breaking of
the piñatas - that used to be in the
shape of four-pointed stars - thus symbolically breaking
the vicious circle of capital sins.
Posadas also help to bring
people together and closer, so that all may know that
a helping hand is always present in any Christian place.
The Mexican tradition of asking
for and offering "lodging" has spread to
Spain and other parts of Europe as well as of the United
States where there are many Hispanics.
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By Maria Elena
http://mariaelena-art.hypermart.net/
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In Puerto Vallarta, December 23
rd is the day when the major posada takes
place. It is a beautiful procession to behold, starting
in Old Vallarta (the South Side) and ending at the
Church near the main square. There is a traditional "Jamaica" (pronounced
ha-my-kah) punch, made with the seeds of the sorrel
of hibiscus plant and a little alcohol. There are piñatas everywhere
and children are given sweets in traditional shapes.
On Christmas Eve, December 24th, a traditional midnight
mass is said in the Church of our Lady of Guadalupe.
The Christmas tree as it is known
in the rest of North America is a relatively recent
arrival in Mexico. The first is said to have been set
up by General Miguel Negrate, a political rival of
Porfirio Díaz (who later became President of
this country) in his house in 1978, only twenty years
ago.
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