Mexican Christmas Traditions - Posadas in Barra de Navidad 2015

Traditional Mexican Nativity Scene

♬ ♪ ♮♫♭♩ Humildes peregrinos Jesús, María y José

Mi alma os doy, y con ella mi corazón también ♬ ♪ ♮♫♭♩

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 sung 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.

Posadas 2015 in Barra de Navidad Program

Christmas Traditions in Mexico - Posadas in Barra de Navidad, Jal.

Posadas in Barra de Navidad 2015
Coming Soon!

On the first day the Belén also called Nacimiento (Nativity Scene) and Christmas tree are set up in the houses.
The Rosary will be prayed at 7:00 p.m. or 8:00 pm in the barrio and sectores following the Mass and Posada at the church in the corresponding area. 

• Dec. TBD - San Felipe 
• Dec. TBD - El Aguacate
• Dec. TBD - Sector 2
• Dec. TBD - Colimilla
• Dec. TBD - Sector  3 de Barra de Navidad
• Dec. TBD - Sector  4 de Barra de Navidad
• Dec. TBD - Brisas de la Navidad
• Dec. TBD - Sector 1 en Templo Parroquial.
• Dec. TBD - Sector 5
• Dec. TBD - Colonia Ejidal, Las Perlitas and Gallo Colorado . Rosary and Posada at 8:30 pm 

Posadas in Barra de Navidad barrio "San Felipe de Jesús"

Join the enthusiastic Doña Petra and neighbors of the Barra de Navidad barrio "San Felipe de Jesús" in their traditional "Posadas in the barrio".   accompanied with their children dressed up as Joseph, Mary, shepherds and devils.

Traditional Mexican Christmas Posada in Barra de Navidad barrio "San Felipe de Jesús"

 Dec. 16th till Dec. 24th. 2013 : The Rosary is prayed around 7:00 pm every day at the barrio church. After the rosary children and adults walk in a parade singing Mexican Christmas carols toward the street where "la posada" takes place.

All the attendants to the "posada" participate singing the verses of the reenactment of Joseph and Mary looking for lodging. A pinata that represent the evil or 7 sins (if it has seven cones) is broken by the children with a stick that represents the triumph of good over evil. The pinata is filled with fruits like pieces of sugar cane, mandarins, oranges, peanuts and candies.

An appetizer is served and children are given "bolos" bags with traditional Mexican Christmas candies and cookies and also fruits..

Note -  Barra de Navidad barrio church is located at the corner of O. Indico and Ejidatarios streets (one block north from Nueva España, a few steps from Abarrotes "Pelayo". Barra de Navidad Mapquest map shows all the streets of Barra de Navidad including the Barrio streets.

Christmas in Mexico Posadas in Barra de Navidad, Jal.  Dec. 2013

Christmas Traditions in Mexico - Posadas and Nativity Scene

Las Posadas and Nativity Scene - Mexican Christmas Traditions

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

"Posadas", Nativity Scene and "Acostada del Niño Dios" are three of the Mexican Christmas traditions. There are also "Pastorelas", "Levantada del Niño Dios", "Día de Reyes" (Wise Men celebration) and "Día 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).

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 - Photo:  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", Jalisco, Mexico

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

Devil figure in Nativity Scene - Nativity Scene Exhibition Virreinato Museum in San Luis Potosi - Photo: 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.

Visiting Barra de Navidad? Stay at Casa Las Margaritas

Celebrating the 451st Anniversary of the Mexico Philippines Expedition that set sail from Barra de Navidad Jalisco on November 21st 1564

Celebrating the 450th Anniversary of the Mexico Philippines Expedition that set sail from Barra de Navidad Jalisco on November 21st 1564

Monument dedicated to the 400 anniversary of the expedition Mexico-Philippines at the Malecon in Barra de Navidad, Jalisco México.

November 21st. is the anniversary of the Expedition that set sail from Barra de Navidad, Jalisco México in 1564 to The Philippines.

From wikipedia:
At the death of the viceroy, Don Luís de Velasco, in 1564, New Spain had passed under the government of the Audiencia, one of whose first cares was to equip an expedition for the conquest and colonization of the Philippines. This had been ordered by Philip II in 1559. Friar Andrés de Urdaneta having been designated as the Commander, the Viceroy had the matter under consideration at the time of his death. Urdaneta was considered a great navigator and especially fitted for cruising in Indian waters. Philip II wrote urging him to join the expedition and offering him the command. Urdaneta agreed to accompany the expedition but refused to take command; the adelantado, Don Miguel López de Legazpi, was appointed as Commander. The expedition, composed of the Capitana, which carried on board Legazpi and Urdaneta, the galleons San Pablo and San Pedro, and the tenders San Juan and San Lucas, set sail from Barra de Navidad, Jalisco, Mexico on November 21, 1564.

 Every year there is an official ceremony to commemorate the anniversary of the expedition at  the  Malecon of Barra de Navidad organized by the Municipality of Cihuatlan and the Barra de Navidad Municipality Delegation. 

Many of the streets in the downtown area and Fraccionamiento Pueblo Nuevo have been named after this expedition.
Check the following Interesting Information about the Route Mexico - Philippines:

• Andrés de Urdaneta 500: website
• Artículo de Exploramex: El Galeón de Manila (La Nao de China) y la China Poblana
• A Mexican connection in intramuros: http://www.theurbanroamer.com/mexican-connection-in-intramuros/
• Plaza Mexico (Manila): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plaza_de_Mexico_(Manila)
• Momentos en la Historia de México: El Descubrimiento de Las Filipinas.

Monument dedicated to the 400 anniversary of the expedition Mexico-Philippines at the Malecon in Barra de Navidad, Jalisco México.

Barra de Navidad, Jalisco, Mexico 

Fraternidad Iberoamericana y Filipina 1564-1964 - Monument dedicated to the 400 anniversary of the expedition Mexico-Philippines at the Malecon in Barra de Navidad, Jalisco México.