Christmas
Christmas
Everything you need to organize the best posada
By Miranda Perea - 2022-12-14T12:48:38Z
The Christmas season is one of the best times of the year, as the streets and homes alike are filled with carols and decorations related to Christmas. Christmas gatherings are not long in coming, for which delicious dishes are prepared and shared with loved ones.
One of the best parts of Christmas are the traditions associated with it, and in Mexico, we have the posadas, a period of festivities that represents the pilgrimage of Mary and Joseph before the birth of Jesus, leading to parties filled with joy and symbolism. At kiwilimón, we want you to make the most of the Christmas season, so we’ll tell you everything you need to organize the best posada with your family and friends.
You can also read: How to adopt a healthy diet during Guadalupe-Reyes
What are posadas and what is their origin?
Posadas are a tradition that cannot be missed during the Christmas season. In Mexico, 9 posadas are celebrated, taking place from December 16 to 24, making them a religious celebration prior to Christmas.
Posadas have their origin in the time of the Conquest, as noted by the Commission of Protected Natural Areas (CONANP). Some sources indicate that to promote Christmas, the evangelizers used the Mexica celebrations around the birth of the god Huitzilopochtli known as Panquetzaliztli, while others state that it stemmed from celebrations related to Quetzalcóatl. In either case, the evangelizers took advantage of these celebrations to shift the focus towards the birth of Jesus.
Thus, the masses of aguinaldo began to be celebrated, which consisted of 9 outdoor masses representing the 9 months of pregnancy of the Virgin Mary and the pilgrimage she made with Joseph before the birth of the child God. During this journey, Mary and Joseph sought lodging until they were received in the manger where, according to tradition, Jesus was to be born.
Additionally, during the masses of aguinaldo, the famous pastorelas were performed, which are religious theatrical representations about the pilgrimage of Mary and Joseph and the adventures of the shepherds who had to face temptations on their way to reach Bethlehem to worship the child God, as noted by the portal Catholic.net.
After Mexico's Independence, the masses of aguinaldo – in which small gifts called “aguinaldo” were also given – disappeared, but were later revived to be held in the homes of the faithful, thus becoming posadas and managing to survive to this day.
Today, posadas continue to have a religious tone, but they are also a moment of celebration and joy where people of all ages gather to continue this tradition amidst lights, songs, piñatas, and traditional dishes and drinks of the Christmas season.
You can also read: Chefs reveal their best tricks and secrets to make your turkey for Christmas
Essential elements for a posada
Posadas are characterized by being moments of celebration and joy where people gather to celebrate, so they are filled with color, songs, food, and other elements that make them unique. If you want to organize the best posada, but don’t know where to start, at kiwilimón we tell you everything you need to have unforgettable moments.
Pilgrims
A key part of the posadas is to represent the pilgrimage of Mary and Joseph seeking lodging before the birth of Jesus. Therefore, during these 9 days of festivities, the attendees are divided into two groups: the pilgrims, who carry the figures of Mary and Joseph, and the hosts, whom they ask for shelter, as noted by El Economista.
Litanies
The litanies are the songs with which the pilgrims ask for shelter until the last of the hosts decides to grant lodging to Mary and Joseph. At this moment, both groups unite again to celebrate together.
Candles and sparklers
While singing the litanies, it is customary for attendees to carry candles or sparklers. This is because they symbolize the light that guided the pilgrims during their long journey.
Piñatas
The piñatas are one of the most representative elements of the posadas and represent both abundance and faith, hope, charity, and the breaking of evil and the triumph of good, as noted by an expert from the Autonomous University of the State of Hidalgo.
Food
After breaking the piñata, which is filled with an abundance of fruits and sweets, it is common for attendees to enjoy traditional dishes and drinks of the season, such as atole, Christmas punch, atole, coffee from the pot, buñuelos, tamales, and other delights of Mexican cuisine that cannot be missed.
Now that you know everything you need to organize the best posada, you are ready to make the most of the Christmas season with your loved ones. If you want to prepare delicious dishes for your posadas and other Christmas gatherings, at kiwilimón you can find the best recipes as well as expert advice to have the best moments.
One of the best parts of Christmas are the traditions associated with it, and in Mexico, we have the posadas, a period of festivities that represents the pilgrimage of Mary and Joseph before the birth of Jesus, leading to parties filled with joy and symbolism. At kiwilimón, we want you to make the most of the Christmas season, so we’ll tell you everything you need to organize the best posada with your family and friends.
You can also read: How to adopt a healthy diet during Guadalupe-Reyes
What are posadas and what is their origin?
Posadas are a tradition that cannot be missed during the Christmas season. In Mexico, 9 posadas are celebrated, taking place from December 16 to 24, making them a religious celebration prior to Christmas.
Posadas have their origin in the time of the Conquest, as noted by the Commission of Protected Natural Areas (CONANP). Some sources indicate that to promote Christmas, the evangelizers used the Mexica celebrations around the birth of the god Huitzilopochtli known as Panquetzaliztli, while others state that it stemmed from celebrations related to Quetzalcóatl. In either case, the evangelizers took advantage of these celebrations to shift the focus towards the birth of Jesus.
Thus, the masses of aguinaldo began to be celebrated, which consisted of 9 outdoor masses representing the 9 months of pregnancy of the Virgin Mary and the pilgrimage she made with Joseph before the birth of the child God. During this journey, Mary and Joseph sought lodging until they were received in the manger where, according to tradition, Jesus was to be born.
Additionally, during the masses of aguinaldo, the famous pastorelas were performed, which are religious theatrical representations about the pilgrimage of Mary and Joseph and the adventures of the shepherds who had to face temptations on their way to reach Bethlehem to worship the child God, as noted by the portal Catholic.net.
After Mexico's Independence, the masses of aguinaldo – in which small gifts called “aguinaldo” were also given – disappeared, but were later revived to be held in the homes of the faithful, thus becoming posadas and managing to survive to this day.
Today, posadas continue to have a religious tone, but they are also a moment of celebration and joy where people of all ages gather to continue this tradition amidst lights, songs, piñatas, and traditional dishes and drinks of the Christmas season.
You can also read: Chefs reveal their best tricks and secrets to make your turkey for Christmas
Essential elements for a posada
Posadas are characterized by being moments of celebration and joy where people gather to celebrate, so they are filled with color, songs, food, and other elements that make them unique. If you want to organize the best posada, but don’t know where to start, at kiwilimón we tell you everything you need to have unforgettable moments.
Pilgrims
A key part of the posadas is to represent the pilgrimage of Mary and Joseph seeking lodging before the birth of Jesus. Therefore, during these 9 days of festivities, the attendees are divided into two groups: the pilgrims, who carry the figures of Mary and Joseph, and the hosts, whom they ask for shelter, as noted by El Economista.
Litanies
The litanies are the songs with which the pilgrims ask for shelter until the last of the hosts decides to grant lodging to Mary and Joseph. At this moment, both groups unite again to celebrate together.
Candles and sparklers
While singing the litanies, it is customary for attendees to carry candles or sparklers. This is because they symbolize the light that guided the pilgrims during their long journey.
Piñatas
The piñatas are one of the most representative elements of the posadas and represent both abundance and faith, hope, charity, and the breaking of evil and the triumph of good, as noted by an expert from the Autonomous University of the State of Hidalgo.
Food
After breaking the piñata, which is filled with an abundance of fruits and sweets, it is common for attendees to enjoy traditional dishes and drinks of the season, such as atole, Christmas punch, atole, coffee from the pot, buñuelos, tamales, and other delights of Mexican cuisine that cannot be missed.
Now that you know everything you need to organize the best posada, you are ready to make the most of the Christmas season with your loved ones. If you want to prepare delicious dishes for your posadas and other Christmas gatherings, at kiwilimón you can find the best recipes as well as expert advice to have the best moments.
