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LATINOS UNIDOS CELEBRATES LAS POSADAS AT RJ
On Wednesday, December 11, the Latinos Unidos Club hosted a Posadas during the lunch period with “houses” in Boys Division Tradition Hall, Sidney Commons of the Steele Center and the Girls Division Cafeteria. Students traveled from space to space receiving sweet breads and ponche (a chocolate-based beverage) while a group of students played instruments and sang the Posadas litany to help students experience a little of what Posadas entails. It was a wonderful celebration enjoyed by the entire school community. Read more about the beautiful history and meaning of Las Posadas below.
More about Las Posadas
Las Posadas is a novenario (an extended devotional prayer). It is celebrated chiefly in Latin America (El Salvador, Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras) and by Latin Americans in the United States. It is typically celebrated each year between December 16 and December 24. Las Posadas derives from the Spanish word posada (lodging or accommodation) which, in this case, refers to the inn from the Nativity story.
Posadas in Mexico began as a way for the Spaniards to teach native people about Christmas. During the nine days leading up to Christmas Day, Masses would include representations of Mary and Joseph. Following Mass was a party where people were blindfolded before hitting a piñata with a stick, a representation of faith defeating temptation with the help of virtue. The fruits and sweets that poured out of the piñata represented the joys of union with God. In time, posadas started to be held in neighborhoods and people’s homes, becoming a more familiar and tightly-knit occasion, as well as preparation for Christmas.
In explaining Posadas, it is easy to consider it the equivalent of Christmas caroling with people going from house to house in a neighborhood, except the tradition is more like a fiesta that reminds us of the Nativity story. The current way of celebrating is that at the beginning of a posada, people are divided into two groups, the ones “outside” representing Mary and Joseph, and the ones “inside” representing innkeepers. Those on the “outside” travel from house to house led by a child dressed as an angel, all singing the posada litany together, re-enacting Mary and Joseph’s search. They go to several houses where they are denied entry (but given sweets and chocolate) until the designated house for the evening finally “admits” them to an inn. After this tradition, the party proper starts. Posadas generally happen each night for nine days with different houses hosting.
We are so fortunate to be able to share a bit of this rich cultural tradition with our community at Regis Jesuit.
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Las Posadas is a novenario (an extended devotional prayer). It is celebrated chiefly in Latin America (El Salvador, Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras) and by Latin Americans in the United States. It is typically celebrated each year between December 16 and December 24. Las Posadas derives from the Spanish word posada (lodging or accommodation) which, in this case, refers to the inn from the Nativity story.
Posadas in Mexico began as a way for the Spaniards to teach native people about Christmas. During the nine days leading up to Christmas Day, Masses would include representations of Mary and Joseph. Following Mass was a party where people were blindfolded before hitting a piñata with a stick, a representation of faith defeating temptation with the help of virtue. The fruits and sweets that poured out of the piñata represented the joys of union with God. In time, posadas started to be held in neighborhoods and people’s homes, becoming a more familiar and tightly-knit occasion, as well as preparation for Christmas.
In explaining Posadas, it is easy to consider it the equivalent of Christmas caroling with people going from house to house in a neighborhood, except the tradition is more like a fiesta that reminds us of the Nativity story. The current way of celebrating is that at the beginning of a posada, people are divided into two groups, the ones “outside” representing Mary and Joseph, and the ones “inside” representing innkeepers. Those on the “outside” travel from house to house led by a child dressed as an angel, all singing the posada litany together, re-enacting Mary and Joseph’s search. They go to several houses where they are denied entry (but given sweets and chocolate) until the designated house for the evening finally “admits” them to an inn. After this tradition, the party proper starts. Posadas generally happen each night for nine days with different houses hosting.
We are so fortunate to be able to share a bit of this rich cultural tradition with our community at Regis Jesuit.
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