Posadas

Las Posadas is a religious and cultural festival celebrated from December 16 to 24 in Mexico and other parts of Latin America, as well as in some areas of the United States. It commemorates the journey of Joseph and Mary from Nazareth to Bethlehem as they searched for shelter before the birth of Jesus.12

The celebration typically involves nightly processions reenacting this journey. Participants, often led by children dressed as biblical figures, visit homes singing songs and reciting scripture, asking for lodging. Each night usually concludes with a party or mass, often featuring traditional foods and the breaking of piñatas. For many Roman Catholics, these processions are part of a novenario, a nine-day devotion concluding on Christmas Eve.12