LAS POSADAS

MEANING:
Las Posadas represents the troubles that Joseph and Mary faced in finding a room when traveling to Bethlehem. In it, groups of children and adults go from house to house singing a traditional song requesting lodging (posada). In each house, the owner responds with refusal (also in song), until they reach the designated site for the party, where the owner recognizes Mary and Joseph and allows them to come in. Latin American countries have continued to celebrate this holiday to this day, with very few changes to the tradition.
These Posadas are a re-enactment of the search by Jesus' two parents, Joseph and Mary for lodging prior to Jesus' birth. Typically, each family in a neighborhood will schedule a night for the Posada to be held at their home, starting on the 16th of December and finishing on the 24th.

christmas for mexicans, in traditional homes and rural areas, is a religious holiday. It is a celebration of the Nativity, or the birthday of Jesus. In order to prepare for the day of commemoration, there are the “posadas”. These celebrations are a “novena” or nine days before the 24th of December which is the “Noche Buena” or Holy Night. Posadas are an enactment of looking for lodging of St. Joseph and Virgin Mary, called peregrinos (Pilgrims) going to Bethlehem according to the Scriptures.

RITUAL
Each family in a neighbourhood will schedule a night for the posada to be held at their home, starting on the 16th of December and finishing on the 24th. Every home will have a Nativity scene. The hosts of the home are the innkeepers, and the neighbourhood children and adults are the peregrinos, who have to request lodging through singing a simple chant. All carry small lit candles in their hands and four teenagers of about the same height are chosen to carry the peregrinos, which are two small statues of St. Joseph leading a donkey, on which Virgin Mary is riding side-saddle. The head of the procession will have a candle inside of a paper lamp shade that looks like an accordion but open at the top and it is called a “farolito” or little lantern.
The peregrinos will ask for lodging in three different houses but only the third one will allow them in. That will be the house that is supposed to have the posada for that evening. Once the innkeepers let them in, the group of guests comes into the home and kneels around the Nativity scene to pray the rosary. The rosary is a traditional Catholic prayer, which consists of the following prayers: 50 Hail Marys, 5 Our Fathers, 5 Glories and the Litany, which is a series of praises for the Virgin Mary, plus singing traditional songs like Holy Night.

(Los Peregrinos)
En el nombre del cielo,
yo os pido posada,
pues no puede andar,
mi esposa amada.

(Los de adentro)
Aquí no es mesón,
sigan adelante,
no les puedo abrir,
no vaya a ser un tunante.

(Los Peregrinos)
No sean inhumanos,
dennos caridad
que el Dios de los Cielos,
se lo premiará.

(Los de adentro)
Ya se pueden ir,
y no molestar
porque si me enfado,
los voy a apalear.

(Los Peregrinos)
Venimos rendidos,
desde Nazaret
yo soy carpintero,
de nombre José.

(Los de adentro)
No me importa el nombre,
déjenme dormir
pues yo ya les digo,
que no hemos de abrir

(Los Peregrinos)
Posada te pido,
amado casero,
por solo una noche,
la Reina del Cielo.

(Los de adentro)
Pues si es una reina,
quien lo solicita,
¿cómo es que de noche,
anda tan solita?

(Los Peregrinos)
Mi esposa es María,
es Reina del cielo
y madre va a ser
del Divino Verbo

(Los de adentro)
¿Eres tú José?
¿Tu esposa es María?
entren peregrinos,
no los conocía.

(Los Peregrinos)
Dios pague señores,
vuestra caridad
y os colme el Cielo
de felicidad.

TODOS...
Dichosa la casa,
que alberga este día
a la virgen pura,
la hermosa María.
Entren Santos Peregrinos,
Peregrinos...
Reciban este rincón,
que aunque es pobre la morada,
la morada...
os la doy de corazón.

The piñata is a done artisan construction with mud and paper or single paper that is used like representation of the capital sins in the catholic religion, is due to break with a wood that represents the strength and force of God, and when breaking themselves fall sweet or fruits with which she was stuffed, these are you compensate and gifts to win to the sin.