The time for posadas has arrived! These festivities have been celebrated in Mexico since colonial times and represent the journey that Joseph and Mary took from Nazareth to their arrival in Bethlehem.

Posadas in Mexico are celebrated from December 16 to 24, so we want you to prepare for a spectacular celebration without breaking the bank, that is, keeping an eye on your budget.

Essentials to consider for a great low-cost posada

1. Piñata: You can make it yourself (check out the tutorial here) or buy one at a market to save the effort. The important thing is that it should be a star-shaped piñata with seven points, each representing the seven deadly sins.


2. Candies and fruit: These will go inside the piñata as they symbolize the blessings received by those who hit the piñata. To not spend more than necessary, we recommend filling the piñata according to tradition: whole peanuts, sugar cane, and oranges.

3. Guests: You don’t need an exact number of guests, but we recommend having at least 10 people to form two groups and start the party.

Remember that to symbolize the pilgrimage of Mary and Joseph, attendees should form two groups. The first will be outside the house asking for shelter, singing the traditional litany: “In the name of heaven, I ask for shelter, for my beloved wife cannot walk.” The group remaining inside the house must deny access three times to the pilgrims singing: “This is not an inn, go on ahead, I cannot open, it may be a rogue.” After three attempts, they are granted shelter, leading to breaking the piñata and enjoying food, including punch.

4. Posada kit: To ensure all guests participate in the posada, you need to provide them with candles, sparklers, and the carols. To avoid overspending, we recommend confirming your number of guests and considering that you will need to give each one: 3 candles, 3 sparklers, and the carol to sing. You can wrap the kit in a cellophane bag with a red ribbon and hand it out when your guests arrive; you’ll make a great impression.

5. Punch: Fruit punch is a must-have at a posada. To make it, in addition to water, you need tejocote, pieces of sugar cane, guava, piloncillo, and cinnamon.

If you're making it for 10 people, these are the exact amounts: 2.5 liters of water, 3 cones of piloncillo, 1 kg of tejocote, 1 kg of sugar cane, 2.5 sticks of cinnamon, and 10 guavas cut into quarters.

If you want to add economical ingredients, we recommend adding 2 apples cut into half-moons and 1/2 kilo of raisins. Remember, you can choose to add alcohol, or your guests can add the amount they prefer.

6. Dishes: If you want to keep your guests happy while watching your budget, you can make pozole or offer golden chicken and potato tacos, sopes with beans, and chicken tostadas. This is the typical food served at traditional posadas; the important thing is that it is something traditional and not expensive. Delicious!

Here are some dishes that will be a hit at your posada:
Chicken tinga in green sauce
Mexican pambazos with potato and chorizo
Easy buñuelos with dulce de leche