Posadas - Celebrating Christmas with Las Posadas

Las Posadas, or “The Inns” or “Shelters,” is a common novena celebration in Hispanic communities during the week before Christmas that commemorates the journey of Mary and Joseph from Nazareth to Bethlehem and their search for refuge. Its origins stretch back hundreds of years in Mexico.

While each group may do Posadas a little differently, a procession traditionally takes place each night from Dec. 16 to Dec. 24. A different quality can be meditated on during each of the nine nights: humility, strength, detachment, charity, trust, justice, purity, joy and generosity. It often starts with the praying of a rosary; sometimes with the singing of Christmas carols between each decade. This is followed by a procession of people dressed as angels and shepherds, some-times carrying religious images and candles. The “Holy Family” stops at three houses, knocks on the door and sings a song asking for lodging. They are refused until reaching the final house each night, where the entire procession is welcomed and a celebration featuring prayer, singing, feasting, a piñata and treats takes place.

Some groups celebrate just one night during this time, while others do a full procession for nine nights in a row. You can do this celebration with your family at your own home using three different doors or three neighbors. Regardless, the heart of Las Posadas is honoring the journey of the Holy Family while celebrating and strengthening community in a Christ-centered way.


For opportunities to participate in Las Posadas, check out these Parishes:

• Holy Angels Parish, Sturgis, in conjunction with St. Mary, Bronson
• Immaculate Conception Parish, Hartford
• St. Joseph Parish Kalamazoo
• St. Basil Parish, South Haven
• San Felipe de Jesus, Fennville

Stop 1

Travelers:
En el nombre del cieloos pido posadapues no puede andarmi esposa amada.
In the name of Heaven I ask of you shelter,for my beloved wife can go no farther.

Home owners:
Aquí no es mesón, sigan adelante Yo no debo abrir, no sea algún tunante.
There’s no inn here,go on with you, I can’t open up you might be a rogue.


Stop 2

Travelers:
Venimos rendidosdes de Nazaret. Yo soy carpinterode nombre José.
We’re weary from traveling from Nazareth. I am a carpenter by the name of Joseph.

Home owners:
No me importa el nombre, déjenme dormir, pues yo les digoque no hemos de abrir.
I don’t care who you are, let me sleep. I already told you we’re not going to open.

Travelers:
Posada te pide, amado casero, por sólo una nochela Reina del Cielo.
I ask you for lodging dear innkeeper. Just for one night for the Queen of Heaven.

Home owners:
Pues si es una reina quien lo solicita, ¿cómo es que de nocheanda tan solita?Well, if it’s a queen who’s asking us for it, why does she travel all alone and in the night?


Stop 3

Travelers:
Mi esposa es María, es Reina del Cieloy madre va a serdel Divino Verbo.
My wife is Mary, she’s the Queen of Heaven who is going to be the mother of the Divine Word.

Home owners:
¿Eres tú José? ¿Tu esposa es María? Entren, peregrinos, no los conocía.
Are you Joseph? Your wife is Mary? Enter, pilgrims; I did not recognize you.

Travelers:
Dios pague, señores, vuestra caridad, y que os colme el cielode felicidad.
May God repay, kind people, your charity, and thus heaven heap happiness upon you.

Home owners:
¡Dichosa la casaque alberga este día a la Virgen pura. la hermosa María!
Blessed is the house that shelters this day the purest Virgin,the beautiful Mary.


Once all are inside, you sing:

Entren santos peregrinos, peregrinos Reciban este rincón. Aunque es pobre la morada, la morada, se las doy de corazón. Cantemos con alegría, alegríatodos al considerarque Jesús, José y María, y Maríanos vinieron hoy a honrar.

Come and enter holy pilgrims, holy pilgrims. Welcome to our humble home. Though our dwelling’s poor and humble, poor and humble, please receive it as your own. Let us sing with joy and gladness, joy and gladness, As we ponder this great day, when Jesus, Joseph, Mary, the Holy Family have come to honor us this day.