Las Posadas: Mexican Nine Day Celebration

I grew up celebrating Las Posadas with my Puerto Rican family in Massachusetts. During the nine days leading up to Christmas, we would gather with our community to reenact the journey that Mary and Joseph took the night Jesus was born. This celebration has always stuck with me as a reminder of the kindness we all have inside of us to give to others. 

Las Posadas celebration begins December 16th and ends December 24th. The tradition starts with each member of the community assuming the role of a character from the traditional nativity story. The group travels to three houses where they sing and ask for lodging from the owner. The first two houses refuse entry, but upon the third house, they will be let in to celebrate. The third house host’s an evening of eating, singing, and dancing where it’s not uncommon to see 100+ guests in a home.

Las Posadas celebration is a massive tradition in Mexico and Guatemala stretching back for hundreds of years. In Mexican culture, participants eat tamales and represent the north star Mary and Joseph followed with a handmade piñata. Learn more about the tradition in the video below.