Mexican Christmas Traditions - Posadas and Pastorelas in Barra de Navidad

Mexican Christmas Traditions

Posadas and Pastorelas in Barra de Navidad

Mexican Christmas Traditions - Posadas and Patorelas in Barra de Navidad barrio 

Mexican Christmas Traditions - Las Posadas and Pastorelas - children dressed up as shepherds carrying decorated crooks (báculos) singing lullabies to baby Jesus

Traditional Mexican Christmas Celebrations "Posadas" and "Pastorelas" in "San Felipe de Jesus" barrio in Barra de Navidad, Jalisco organized by Doña Petra and neighbors. This event is free but donations are welcome to the church or Doña Petra the organizer of the Posadas.

There are also Posadas around the different Barra de Navidad neighborhoods Dec. 15 - Dec. 24.

"Las Posadas" officially 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.

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.

 "San Felipe de Jesús" barrio in Barra de Navidad celebrates these beautiful traditions in the most authentic way thanks to a group of neighbors led by Doña Petra.

In this case they organize a combination of Posada and Pastorela. Enthusiastic children dressed up as Joseph, Mary, shepherds, the Wise Men (Reyes Magos), angels and devils including "luzbel" (lucifer) gather in the church of the Barra de Navidad barrio where the Rosary along with  Christmas songs is prayed around 7:00 pm. 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 (see below songs to ask for Posada). They also sing lullabies for Baby Jesus in the part known in Mexico as "acostada del Niño Dios" (bedding of Baby Jesus).  A piñata  is broken by the children and to finish an appetizer is served (pozole, tostadas, tacos, etc) and children are given "bolos" bags with traditional Mexican Christmas candies and cookies and also fruits.

Mexican Christmas Traditions - Las Posadas and Pastorelas - children dressed up as shepherds carrying decorated crooks (báculos) singing lullabies to baby Jesus

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Mexican Christmas Traditions - Las Posadas and Pastorelas - Children on a pilgrimage asking for 'posada' 

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A little devil, wise men, and angels -  Mexican Christmas Traditions - Las Posadas and Pastorelas 

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Children dressed as shepherds praying the rosary -  Mexican Christmas Traditions - Posadas and Pastorelas 

Mexican Christmas Traditions - Posadas and Pastorelas - San Felipe de Jesus barrio in Barra de Navidad Jalisco
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Mexican Christmas Traditions - Posadas and Pastorelas - San Felipe de Jesus barrio in Barra de Navidad Jalisco

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Doña Petra with little shepherds - Mexican Christmas Traditions - Posadas and Pastorelas - San Felipe de Jesus barrio in Barra de Navidad Jalisco

 Mexican Christmas Traditions - Posadas and Pastorelas - San Felipe de Jesus barrio in Barra de Navidad Jalisco

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Children breaking a piñata, even the pet join the posada - Mexican Christmas Traditions - Posadas and Pastorelas - San Felipe de Jesus barrio in Barra de Navidad Jalisco

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Doña Petra and a little devil - Mexican Christmas Traditions - Posadas and Pastorelas - San Felipe de Jesus barrio in Barra de Navidad Jalisco

Mexican Christmas Traditions - Posadas and Pastorelas - San Felipe de Jesus barrio in Barra de Navidad Jalisco

Mexican Christmas Traditions - Las Posadas - Joseph, Mary and the Angel - Barra de Navidad barrio 

  Mexican Christmas Traditions - Las Posadas -   Ready to break "la Piñata"!! 

Mexican Christmas Traditions - Las Posadas and Patorelas in Barra de Navidad barrio

Traditional Piñata of seven cones - Mexican Christmas Traditions - Las Posadas and Pastorelas in Barra de Navidad barrio

Mexican Christmas Traditions - Las Posadas and Pastorelas in Barra de Navidad barrio

Doña Petra praiying the rosary with children - Mexican Christmas Traditions - Las Posadas and Pastorelas in Barra de Navidad barrio

Mexican Christmas Traditions - Las Posadas and Pastorelas in Barra de Navidad barrio

A little devil "Luz-Bel", a cute Angel and a shepherd -  Mexican Christmas Traditions - Las Posadas and Pastorelas in Barra de Navidad barrio 

Doña Petra with children dressed up as Joseph an Angels - Mexican Christmas Traditions - Las Posadas and Pastorelas in Barra de Navidad barrio

Children singing "Las Posadas" songs - Mexican Christmas Traditions - Las Posadas and Pastorelas in Barra de Navidad barrio

Mexican Christmas Traditions - Las Posadas and Pastorelas in Barra de Navidad barrio

Songs to ask for Posada . From wikipedia

Afuera: En nombre del cielo os pido posada -pues no puede andar mi esposa amada(2)	Adentro: Aquí no es mesón, sigan adelante. -Yo no puedo abrir no sea algún tunante(2)
Afuera: No seas inhumano, tenos caridad -que el Rey de los cielos te lo premiará(2)	Adentro: Ya se pueden ir y no molestar -porque si me enfado os voy a apalear(2)
Afuera: Venimos rendidos desde Nazaret; -yo soy carpintero de nombre José(2)	Adentro: No me importa el nombre déjenme dormir -porque ya les digo que no hemos de abrir(2)
Afuera: Posada te pide amado casero -por sólo una noche la Reina del cielo(2)	Adentro: Pues si es una reina quien lo solicita -¿Cómo es que de noche anda tan solita?(2)
Afuera: Mi esposa es María es reina del cielo -y madre va a ser del divino Verbo(2)	Adentro: ¿Eres tú José? ¿Tu esposa es María? -Entren peregrinos no los conocía(2)
Afuera: Dios pague, señores vuestra caridad -y os colme el cielo de felicidad(2)	Adentro: Dichosa la casa que alberga este día -a la Virgen pura la hermosa María(2)

Todos (Se abre la puerta de la casa e ingresan todos los cantantes que estaban afuera):

Entren Santos peregrinos, peregrinos

reciban este rincón

Y aunque es pobre la morada, la morada

os la doy de corazón

¡Cantemos con alegría,

todos al considerar

que Jesús, José y María,

nos vinieron hoy a honrar.