A Mexican Christmas
There are nine days of festivals in Mexico which make up the Christmas celebration. These are called the Posadas. They start on December 16th and end on December 24th. Posadas means inn or place to lodge. The festival comemorates the journey taken by Mary and Joseph when they went to Bethlehem.
On the night of the 16th the first procession is formed with two young children at the front. They carry a litter made from twigs which carry figures of the nativity. When they arrive at the house which is giving the posadas for that night they knock on the door and sing a song begging for lodging. The people inside sing a reply saying that the house is not an inn. The children keep on pleading for lodging and eventually persuade those in the house to let them in.
When the children are finally let in they place the figures on the altar and they all sing and say prayers.
The most exciting part of the celebration comes now...the breaking of the pinata. A pinata is a clay or papier mache shape filled with sweets and toys. It is hung up high and dangles on a long string. In a games the children have sticks and try to break the pinata to release the toys and sweets held within.
On the night of the 16th the first procession is formed with two young children at the front. They carry a litter made from twigs which carry figures of the nativity. When they arrive at the house which is giving the posadas for that night they knock on the door and sing a song begging for lodging. The people inside sing a reply saying that the house is not an inn. The children keep on pleading for lodging and eventually persuade those in the house to let them in.
When the children are finally let in they place the figures on the altar and they all sing and say prayers.
The most exciting part of the celebration comes now...the breaking of the pinata. A pinata is a clay or papier mache shape filled with sweets and toys. It is hung up high and dangles on a long string. In a games the children have sticks and try to break the pinata to release the toys and sweets held within.
The same process is repeated for eight nights. The final night, Christmas Eve is a huge event ending with midnight fireworks, whistles and beels. Most people then go to church to celbrate the Misa del Gallo (Mass of the Cock, could that be something to do with it being very early in the morning?). Dinner is served after mass and that always includes bunuelos...pancake served with a sort of maple syrup.
