Between December 16th and 24th (la novena), several Latin American countries celebrate the lead-up to Christmas with Las Posadas (which means “the inns” and refers to the inns from the nativity story). These nine days represent the nine month’s of Mary’s pregnancy, and nativity plays recreate Mary and Joseph’s travel to the inn where Jesus was born.
In Medieval Times, plays and dramatizations of Biblical stories were used to teach religious doctrine to those unable to access or read the text. Because the source material is a little dry, incorporating folk music and other secular elements helped draw the crowds. The Church™ really hated this, so they were eventually banned.
Legend holds that these plays were revived by Spanish saints to tell the nativity story. In actuality, it was an easy way for Spanish missionaries to share The Good Word™ with large groups of people in the land they were colonizing.
But why was Christmas such a winner? (Easter was a big hit, too, but we’ll talk about that later.)
On the Aztec calendar, the mother of the gods, Tonantzin, was celebrated on the winter solstice – which then fell on December 12th with the calendar the Spanish used until 1582. The sun god, Huītzilōpōchtli, was also born in December. Celebrating a mother figure and the birth of a deity? Big star iconography, worship and song? Yeah, it was easy to jump in on that. In 1586, Friar Diego de Soria got a Papal bull declaring that Mass should be observed for the nine days preceding Christmas in Mexico.
Las Posadas is a novenario – extended period of prayer – so most celebrations begin with prayer. Most include carols, as well.
The caminata play is often repeated each night. Friends, family and neighbors gather someplace where there are three doors that open to the street. One groups sings from inside, the other carries figures that represent Mary and Joseph – or follow some kids dressed up as the two (sometimes adorably perched atop donkeys, stawwwwp it), singing. Team Mary and Joseph approach each door and is turned away – until they approach the third door. Variations include angels, shepherds, pilgrims with religious iconography, musicians and more. Children may carry cuetlaxochitl.
After the play, food. Atole de Galleta Maria, or basically a drink made of mashed Maria’s Cookies and milk (sure you could make your own cookies for this, but, like, try to do better than Maria… I dare you.) Ponche made with warm fruits. Traditional, regional dishes fit for a celebration. Seriously, so many. Then, it’s time to thwack a piñata and harvest its delicious innards.
Some people insist that the piñata has its origins in Las Posadas. This is both true and untrue. The idea of breaking open a container full of treats was actually a European one brought to Mexico by colonizers. BUT there were similar traditions in place surrounding the birth of Huītzilōpōchtli, often using clay pots that are the gold-standard base of a piñata. In any case, the Mexican piñata tradition began just north of Mexico City for Las Posadas. Star-shaped piñatas are traditional for this, with either seven (representing the seven deadly sins) or nine (for the nine nights of Las Posadas) points. Being blindfolded represents blind faith, the stick represents overcoming the sin, the treats are God’s blessings. Aww. Now, of course, this super fun activity is a part of both secular and religious celebrations.
Love this. Have you seen the Three Caballeros? My brother and I loved that movie as a kid and that's where I first learned about los posadas.