Las Posadas and Nativity Scene - Christmas Mexican Traditions in Barra de Navidad

Mexican Nativity Scene - Nativity Scene Exhibition Virreinato Museum in San Luis Potosi - Courtesy Casa Las Margaritas

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Posadas, Nativity Scene and Acostada del Niño Dios are three of the Christmas Mexican traditions. There are also Pastorelas, Levantada del Niño Dios, Dia de Reyes (Wise Men celebration) and Dia de La Candelaria (Candle Mass Day).

Nativity Scene Exhibition Virreinato Museum in San Luis Potosi - Courtesy Casa Las Margaritas

Nativity Scene: Belén also called Nacimiento is set up usually on Dec 16th. It has representations of traditional Mexican scenes combined with scenes of how the artisans imagine was Bethlehem in the time when Jesus was born. The center of the Nacimiento are the figures of Joseph and Mary with Baby Jesus. Important part of a Nativity Scene are the Bethlehem Star, the 3 wise men (Los 3 Reyes Magos), the angel, a cow, a ox, shephers and the devil (diablo).

Nativity Scene in Cabo Blanco Hotel

Posadas : is a 9 days celebration (Novenario de Las Posadas) that symbolizes the journey of Joseph and Mary to Belen and the problems they had to endure to find a place to stay (posada).

Mexican Nativity Scene - Nativity Scene Exhibition Virreinato Museum in San Luis Potosi - Courtesy Casa Las Margaritas 

 Posadas traditionally begin on Dec 16th when the Nativity Scene is set up in most of the houses in Mexico, and the last posada is on Dec. 24th. In a traditional Posada the Rosary is prayed and images of Joseph and Mary are taken on a pilgrimage by the "peregrinos" (pilgrims) carrying candles and "bengala" lights and singing the traditional songs looking for a place to stay where Jesus will be born.During the pilgrimage Joseph and Mary are rejected until they are finally allowed in a place where Jesus will be born. Traditional songs are song by the participants, a piñata with seven cones (that represent the seven capital sins) full of candies, oranges, mandarins and sugar cane pieces  is broken and bags with colaciones (special type of candy for posadas), cookies, oranges, mandarins, sugar cane pieces and peanuts (bolos) are given to all the attendants.
Posadas can be organized by families, friends, neighbors, churches, companies, etc. The following is the program of the Posadas organized by the Church in Barra de Navidad where everybody is welcome to participate.

Traditional Mexican Posadas in Barra de Navidad barrio "San Felipe de Jesus"

Poinsettia, Christmas flower, Cuitlaxochitl or Nochebuena is a  flower or Mexican Central American origin

Posadas in Barra de Navidad
 On the first day the Belén also called Nacimiento (Nativity Scene) and Chritmas tree are set up in the houses. Rosary will be prayed at 7:30 p.m. Mass at 8:00 p.m. Pastorela.

The following is the schedule of the posadas in the Barra de Navidad area. Contact Barra de Navidad church if you are interested in joining these joyful celebrations.

Tue    15th                       Colonia Infonavit
Wed  16th                       Colimilla
Thu    17th                       Colonia San Felipe de Jesus (Barrio)
Fri      18th                      El Aguacate
Sat     19th                      Colonias: La Ejidal and Las Perlitas
Sun    20th                      Sector 2 (Mass at 8:00 p.m.) in Barra de Navidad
Mon   21st                      Sector 1 in Barra de Navidad
Tue    22nd                     Sector 5 and Fraccionamiento Pueblo Nuevo in Barra de Navidad
Wed   23rd                     Sector 3 in Barra de Navidad
Thu     24th                     Sector 4 in Barra de Navidad

Devil figure in Nativity Scene - Nativity Scene Exhibition Virreinato Museum in San Luis Potosi - Courtesy Casa Las Margaritas 

Acostada del Niño Dios - On Dec. 24th it is also very common the celebration of "Acostada del Niño Dios" (bedding of Baby Jesus) where the image of Baby Jesus is put in the Nativity Scene on a special ceremony with prays and songs. The image of Baby Jesus is cleaned with perfume by the "godparents" (usually children are invited as Baby Jesus godparents), and putting to "sleep" with prays and songs.  The image of Baby Jesus is putting on a tray with candies and chocolates, the tray is passed to everyone to kiss Baby Jesus and take a candy from the tray. Then Baby Jesus is  put on the Nativity Scene usually until Candlemas day on February 2nd. when the "Levantada del Niño Dios" is celebrated.

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Lady of Guadalupe Feast – Rosaries, Altars, Novenas, Floats and Parade, Pilgrimages in Barra de Navidad, Villa Obregon, Melaque and Cihuatlan

Lady of Guadalupe image in Tacos Johny Restaurant in Cihuatlan

One of the most important religious holidays in Mexico is dedicated to Our Lady of Guadalupe (Virgen de Guadalupe) on Dec. 12th. The celebrations actually start 46 days before Dec 12th with the praying of the Rosary each day.

This is a recount of how the Lady of Guadalupe Feast is celebrated in Barra de Navidad and surrounded villages of Villa Obregon, San Patricio Melaque and municipality city of Cihuatlan.

Go here: Lady of Guadalupe Festivities 2011 Calendar Barra de Navidad, Jaluco, Villa Obregon, Melaque, Cihuatlan 
Go here: For Virgin of Guadalupe Festivities 2010 Calendar

Lady of Guadalupe Altar / Altar a la Virgen de Guadalupe: An altar dedicated to the Virgin of Guadalupe is set up in the front of houses and businesses starting October 28th. Usually the altar is set up for people participating in the praying of the 46 Rosaries.

Virgen of Guadalupe altar at Sea Master Restaurant

46 Rosaries: Walking in the streets of Barra de Navidad in the evening you would probably have noticed groups of people gathering in front of an altar of the Lady of Guadalupe, these people are praying the Rosary. Barra de Navidad is divided in sectors, so, there are different groups of prayers of Rosary depending of the sector they belong. The Rosary pray is usually at 6:00 p.m. and when it finishes the host offers aguas frescas (refreshing beverages) or a small complimentary snack to the assistants. The group will collect 46 starts in the image of the Virgin. The image of the Lady of Guadalupe and the starts are taken on Dec 12th on pilgrimage by the group participants to the church.

Novenas: These are 9 Rosaries prayed 9 days before Dec 12th. People and most commonly children are dressed up as Chichimeca Indian San Juan Diego Cuauhtlatoatzin with his `ayate` showing the image of the Virgin of Guadalupe in the front. Girls are dressed up with the Indian outfit similar to the one of the Chichimecas used to wear at the time when the miracle occurred. Villa Obregon also organizes a pilgrimage as part of the novena to the main church, praying of the Rosary and a mass after the Rosary.

Veladas: Cihuatlan has Veladas in different Barrios (sector of the city). In a Velada the image of Lady of Guadalupe of the Parroquia de la Santa Cruz (Main Church in Cihuatlan) is taken around 8:00 pm to `velarla` spend overnight in the barrio where a mass is celebrated. There are also danzas, and pozole and coffee are usually offered to the assistants. The image of the Lady of Guadalupe is taken back in a pilgrimage early in the morning to the main church and a mass is celebrated at 5:30 am.

Pilgrimage to Cihuatlan: Melaque, Barra de Navidad, Jaluco, Infonavit and El Aguacate participate in a pilgrimage that start around midnight to end very early in the morning around 5:00 am walking to Cihuatlan by the old road and then the highway. A mass is celebrated in the main church in Cihuatlan.

Pilgrimages in Cihuatlan (Peregrinaciones del Pueblo): There are individual pilgrimages in Cihuatlan of the different groups that also participate in the pilgrimage of Dec 12th. The individual pilgrimages start on Dec 1st. Some of the groups are taxi service, primary schools, children groups, banana field workers, bank employees.

Church Ringing Bells or Fireworks (Repique de Campanas y Cuetes): Church ringing bell in the Parroquia de la Santa Cruz from Dec 1st to Dec 12th is at 4:30 a.m. In Barra de Navidad, Melaque and Villa Obregon there are fireworks very early in the morning at around 5:00 a.m.

Mañanitas a la Virgen: Mañanitas (traditional songs dedicated as a birthday present very early in the morning) usually played by Mariachi bands is offered to the Lady of Guadalupe. In Cihuatlan is every day at 5:30 a.m. every day starting Dec 1st.

Cihuatlan

Dec 11th Midnight mass in the Parroquia de la Santa Cruz.

Dec 12th

9:00 a.m. First Communion Mass

11:00 a.m. Pilgrimage of the habitants

5:00 p.m. Floats and Danzas.

Floats show life scenes of the apparitions of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

Danzas are different groups of dancers dancing in pre-Columbian style and dressing either like Apaches or a mix of pre-Columbian and Hispanic dresses. They held flags with the image of the Virgin of Guadalupe or have this image printed in the outfit.

Some of the groups that participate in the Danzas are:

Danza de Los Plataneros

Danza de Los Plataneros

Danza del Amarillo

Danza del Amarillo

Danza de la Tecolotera (Colonia Miguel Hidalgo)

Danza de los Niños del Divino Nino

Danza de los Apaches

Danza del Chavarín

Locos de la Danza. Danzas in Mexico usually have at least one participant call Loco de la Danza. They represent the evil fighting against the dancers. In the danzas in Cihuatlan they are dressed up in costumes made with balloons, newspaper or banana leafs.

Loco de la Danza

Locos de la Danza with outfits mades of newpaper

Locos de la Danza with outfits mades of newpaper

8:00 Solemn Mass dedicated to the Virgin Mary. Music of the mass will be performed by the University of Colima Choir. Blessing of Roses and Images.

After the mass there will be a concert by the same choir, traditional Mexican fireworks: Castillos, Toritos and Bombas.

El Aguacate and Infonavit Community

Dec 11th

5:00 p.m. Rosary and pilgrimage to the church with Lady of Guadalupe images and starts

6:00 p.m. Mass

Jaluco

Dec 11th

6:00 p.m. Rosary and pilgrimage to the church with Lady of Guadalupe images and starts

7:00 Mass

Dec 12th

10:00 a.m. pilgrimage to the church with Lady of Guadalupe images and starts. The pilgrimage starts by the Bull Fighting ring in Jaluco.

10:45 a.m. Mass

Barrio San Felipe de Jesus in Barra de Navidad

Dec 11th

7:00 p.m. Rosary and pilgrimage to the small church in the Barrio with Lady of Guadalupe images and starts

8:00 p.m. Mass (joining Colonia Ejidal)

Dec 12th

9:30 a.m. Mass

Barra de Navidad

Dec 11th

8:00 p.m. Rosary and pilgrimage to the main church with Lady of Guadalupe images and starts in downtown Barra de Navidad

9:00 p.m. Mass (joining Colimilla)

Dec 12th

8:00 a.m. Mass

12:00 p.m. Mass

6:00 p.m. Pilgrimage and `Danzas` to the Barra de Navidad church with Lady of Guadalupe images and starts participating families of Barra de Navidad and Barrio San Felipe de Jesus. This pilgrimage starts in the high way by the foot ball field and ends in the Barra de Navidad church in downtown.

7:00 p.m. Mass

Cihuatlan Floats and Danzas Parade on Dec 12th - Lady of Guadalupe Feast YouTube Video

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