La Posada en México

La Posada en México – The very first Posada in Mexico originated in 1586 colonial Mexico City. Friar Diego de Soria, obtained a papal decree from Pope Sixtus V to celebrate what was called Misas de Aguinaldo “Christmas bonus Masses” between December 16 and December 24. The Aztecs had a tradition of honoring their god Huitzilopochtli at the same time of year (coinciding with the winter solstice), and they would have special meals in which the guests were given small figures of idols made from a paste that consisted of ground toasted corn and agave syrup. The friars took advantage of the coincidence, in order to assimilate more of the indigenous Aztec natives to Christianity and the two celebrations were combined. Ever since then, the Posada celebrations which were originally held in a church, are now a part of family culture and tradition that involves and includes tamales, fried flour tortillas dipped in syrup or sprinkled with cinnamon (bunuelos), candy and piñatas, tequila and Mezcal. The Posada celebration has been a tradition in Mexico for more than 430 years.

The Posada festivities include a procession in which two people dress up as Mary and Joseph, and leave the church on a walk through their neighborhood, singing gospel songs of Christianity and in some places, people acting as Mary and Joseph, actually ride a real donkey during the procession. The word posada means an “inn” or “shelter” in Spanish, and the procession tradition is a reenactment of the Bible story of Mary and Joseph’s journey to Bethlehem in their search for a place to rest and stay for the night during the birth of Jesus.

Companies of every kind and Hotel Resorts throughout the Country of Mexico, traditionally hold Posadas dinner parties around Christmas time to celebrate the holidays with their employees. Raffle prizes and employee of the year awards are typical at such formal dress family-oriented events.