Each New Day

I just learned that there will be a Los Posadas celebration in our area this week. Los Posadas is the Christmas celebration found in Mexico. During this time, there is a re-enactment fo the journey of Joseph and Mary to Bethlehem in search of an inn. The local celebration will include just such a re-enactment. I am not sure if we will be able to attend, but I was excited to learn of this, just as we finished up our study of Christmas traditions around the world.

We read today about Christmas in Mexico-Los Posadas. It is a real time of celebration. Beginning on December 16, every day until Christmas Eve, the children will dress up and re-enact the journey of Joseph and Mary to Bethlehem. On Christmas Eve, the procession ends at the church, with the baby Jesus being placed in the manger scene.

There are lots of parties and decorations. One of the most popular decorations and perhaps the symbol of los posadas is the Poinsetta Plant, known in Mexico as the Flor de la noche buena-the Flower of the Nativity. This plant was “discovered” and brought back to America by Joseph Poinsett, so in is known in the States as the Poinsetta flower. Of course any Mexican celebration will include a pinata, and Christmas is filled with the colorful paper colored decorations, waiting for the treats to rain down. The Christmas season lasts several weeks in Mexico, up until February 2, Candlemas Day.