“Took his wife into his home.”
Las Posadas starts on December 16th and goes on until Christmas. Las Posadas literally means “the inns”. The festival is based on a reenactment of Mary and Joseph trying to find lodging at numerous inns and being turned away.
The story behind the festival is…
When Mary was pregnant with Jesus, she and Joseph were living in Nazareth. At that time, Israel was a province of the Roman Empire. Rome’s governor, Herod, conducted a census, in order to levy a new tax. As part of the process, all citizens were ordered to return to the towns of their ancestor’s birth. Since Joseph was a descendent of King David, his ancestral town was Bethlehem, the “town of David”. And so, he took his expecting wife, and made the journey.
Thanks to the census, they were far from the only ones traveling. All the inns were completely full and they couldn’t find lodging. Eventually an innkeeper let them stay in his stables.
Nowadays, throughout Mexico where they celebrate Las Posadas, children parade through their towns. The adults carry candles following the children. The leader of the parade is a child dressed as an angel. A little girl plays Mary, a boy plays Joseph and three others play the Wise Kings. They follow the angel. The other children dress as shepherds and shepherdesses following behind.
The procession goes from “inn” to “inn” asking for shelter. They really go from house to house. They sing a song called Villancicos para pedir posadas. The procession on the street asks for shelter. The people in the house sing back that no, there’s no space in their inn. Finally one innkeeper tells them they can stay in the stable. The doors are open to all at this final house and a big party begins! Everyone says a prayer, and then eats, drinks and is merry! A star shaped piñata, representing the star of Bethlehem, is part of the party.
Here’s a loose English translation of the song they sing in Mexico for Las Posadas.
[For side by side English and Spanish text see the booklet on the main page]
Searching for an Inn Carols
The Pilgrims…
In the name of the heavens, I request lodging from you,
Because she cannot walk, My beloved wife.
The Innkeepers…
This is not an inn, Go on ahead
I can’t open up for you, In case you’re a crook.
The Pilgrims…
Don’t be cruel, Give us charity
That the gods of the heavens, Will give it to you.
The Innkeepers…
You can go now and, Don’t bother us
Because if I get upset, I’m going to beat you.
The Pilgrims…
We come tired, From Nazareth
I am a carpenter, Whose name is Joseph.
The Innkeepers…
Your name doesn’t concern me, I’m going to sleep
Because I already told you, That we don’t have to open up.
The Pilgrims…
I’ve asked you for lodging, Dear innkeeper
Because the mother is going to be, The queen of the heavens.
The Innkeepers
Then if she is a queen, Who requests it
How is it that at nighttime, She’s traveling so alone?
The Pilgrims…
My wife is Mary, Queen of the heavens
And mother who’s going to make, The divine oath.
The Innkeepers
You are Joseph, Your wife is Mary
Come in travelers!, I didn’t know it.
The Pilgrims…
May God pay gentlemen, For our charity
And may the heavens overwhelm you, With Happiness!
Everyone…
Happy (or blessed) is the house, That shelters today, The pure virgin, The beautiful Mary.
Enter holy pilgrims, Receive this haven, That although it’s a poor dwelling
The dwelling…
I offer to you from the heart.
Las Posadas is a good way for families and parishes to keep wait for the Christ Child. We honor Joseph for taking Mary into his home, as his wife. In the devotion of Las Posadas we imitate Joseph by taking the Blessed Virgin, Queen of the Heavens into our home and by taking her in, we take in Jesus, her Son.
Families may use the booklet on the main page as a guide praying each night from Dec. 16 until the vigil of Christmas (Dec.24). Not only should families open their homes but it is good that the parish also host a night to allow more people to attend.
Some components of Las Posadas include: making and setting up luminaries at the host’s home, singing, praying the joyful mysteries of the Rosary, a short teaching on scripture, veneration of the Christ Child, great food and drink.
Source: http://www.mamalisa.com; introduction and song