The POSADAS will begin on Dec 16, but wat are they?

"Las Posadas"

In Mexico, Christmas is an important holiday season with strong traditions. One of the most colorful traditions is the posada party, celebrated every evening from December 16 to 24. These celebrations commemorate Mary and Joseph's cold and difficult journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem in search of shelter. "Posada" in Spanish, simply means lodging or shelter. Nowadays, the posada has evolved into a religious and social celebration, paying a festive homage to the journey.

Each one of these nights before Christmas, a party is held in a home in the neighborhood. There is plenty of food and drink, with candies and fruit for the children. At dusk, all the guests gather outside the house. A small child dressed as an angel leads, followed by children carrying figures of Mary and Joseph. Boys and girls dressed in silver and gold robes constitute the procession, followed by the adults and musicians. Everyone sings melodious songs as they walk slowly along, carrying their lit candles. When they reach the house, the group divides in two. One half remains outside and begs for shelter from the other half, which is inside the house. The doors are then opened, the religious part of the celebration ends, and the fun begins.

The happy end to each posada has always been the piñata. A piñata is a fragile earthenware jar covered with paper mache, traditionally made in the shape of a star, to recall the one that so mysteriously guided the Three Kings to the newborn Jesus. Now piñatas come in all shapes and sizes and are filled with candy, toys, and sometimes money.

In the old days, the last posada held on December 24 was most popular, because it was followed by midnight Mass. In the provinces of Mexico, this tradition lives on.

Taken from LA GACETA CONSULAR, Consulado Mexicano de Austin, Texas.

-- Enrique Ortiz (eaortiz@yahoo.com), December 13, 2002

Answers

That is cool, Enrique. I am so enthralled by the central and south American traditions and culture. My fiance is from Peru, and it was such a blessing to meet her family down there. It really is a treat. You can feel the difference in the air! We, well here in the US, are soooo money / work / self centered. We don't even hug or kiss our parents and family! En cambio (on the other hand) in south and central America they are leisure / family / friends centered. When I stepped off the plane in Peru I was greated with nothing but hugs and kisses! And here family barely knew me. I think that is one reason that the latin Amaricans are comparitivly poorer monitarily than the US. However, if I had to choose between monitary poverty and spiritual poverty, I would definitly choose the former.

In Christ.

P.S - on the pinata (I can't put that squigly line above the n):

Originally it was a star, and also originally didn't it have 7 points (symbolising the 7 deadly sins)? Can you explain this a little more.

-- Jake Huether (jake_huether@yahoo.com), December 13, 2002.

Here is the information about the PIÑATA:

When the first missionaries arrived in Mexico, they were faced with a very different way of life than the one they were used to. The conquest meant not only taking over territories that had recently been discovered as America, but it was also the imposition of a language, Spanish customs and habits and, among other things, religion. It was not easy for the evangelists to change the entire belief in many gods ideology of the many different Indian populations, so they had to invent strategies that they could use to teach the mysteries of God to the Indians. One of the most complicated dogmas was sin and the way in which Satan tempts us. The missionaries had to teach them about how we must be strong to beat the Devil; that that's how we reap the benefits of heaven...how complicated!!! And with huge weight of responsibility on their shoulders, the Franciscans found the answer...a piñata! They designed a huge ceramic pot covered with colored paper in the shape of a star, where each one of the points represented one of the seven deadly sins. It was something that would come down from and then rise up to the sky (hence the shape of the star) ant it would bother people...touch them...tempt them! So, you have to hit it hard, overcome the temptation, break the evil, put all your attention into getting rid of evil. But it's not easy! Sin blinds us with a blindfold, and our family and friends and others who surround us are the ones who have to guide us in order to break the chain of evil. ¡Dale, dale, dale! ¡arriba… abajo! ¡duro…duro! ¡rómpela...rómpela! (hit it, hit it, hit it! Up...down! harder...harder! break it... break it! And when someone is well guided, the piñata is broken! Then, from heaven, we are showered with gifts...fruit, candy, toys, immense happiness that fills us with joy. Evil has been destroyed, God is with us, the missionaries have accomplished their duty and we Mexicans enjoy one of our most fun and exciting traditions. The piñata has been transformed like the popular culture, and has changed its form from the traditional star to bunnies, dogs, carrots, beets, Tweety-bird and Pokemon...breaking the piñata will always be a thrill for all children. These days piñatas are not used just for the posadas -- now they're a must for any children's party and other occasions. Whether they be made of cardboard or ceramic, during the holiday season or in the middle of summer, star or animal, piñatas will always be a joyful reminder of Mexican traditions.

YOU WILL FIND ANOTHER VERSION OF THE PIÑATA at this site:

http://www.tapf.org/RanchoSB/english/cultncomm/recreation/pinata/pinat a.htm

Enrique

-- Enrique Ortiz (eaortiz@yahoo.com), December 14, 2002.

Dear Jake: I hope the information I sent will be helpful to you.

Our typewriters have a special key for de Ñ. It is not a question of writing an N and then try to put the TILDE on top.

God bless you

Enrique

-- Enrique Ortiz (eaortiz@yahoo.com), December 14, 2002.

Thank you, amigos, for this very pleasant thread!
What a relief from all the controversy at the forum!
JFG

-- J. F. Gecik (jfgecik@hotmail.com), December 15, 2002.

for the ñ, you press 164 while holding down the alt key

-- Fela (herlitaness@aol.com), December 06, 2003.