Las Posadas celebrations still thriving in Oklahoma City

Prior to Christmas, parishes throughout the country commemorate the journey and events experienced by Joseph and Mary before the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ with a celebration: Las Posadas.

The term Las Posadas, which translates “the inns,” is a Mexican Christmas tradition running from Dec. 16 to 24 in honor of Mary and Joseph's search for shelter on their way to Bethlehem.

Parishioners at Historic Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Oklahoma City look forward to the annual Las Posadas at their parish.

“Las Posadas is a beautiful Hispanic tradition,” said Sandra Font of Historic Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Oklahoma City, where the celebration has thrived for many years.

Las Posadas in Mexico began as a way for the Spaniards to teach native people about Christmas. During the nine days leading up to Christmas Day, Masses would include representations of Mary and Joseph. Mass was followed by a party where people were blindfolded before hitting a piñata with a stick, a representation of faith defeating temptation with the help of virtue. The fruits and sweets that poured out of the piñata represented the joys of union with God.

Over time, posadas were held in neighborhoods and people’s homes, becoming a more familiar and tightly-knit occasion, as well as preparation for Christmas. At the beginning of a posada, people are divided into two groups – the ones ‘outside’ representing Mary and Joseph, and the ones ‘inside’ representing innkeepers. Then everyone sings the posada litany together, re-enacting Mary and Joseph’s search, going back and forth until they are finally “admitted” to an inn.

After this tradition, the party proper starts. Posadas have spread to other countries, including Guatemala, Colombia, Ecuador and Venezuela. The celebrations vary by location.

“The posada litany is essential,” Font said. “Many people also sing Christmas carols, and during modern posadas, people break out a karaoke machine and sing into the night.

The traditional piñatas typically have seven spikes to represent the seven deadly sins. 

“Although piñatas have mostly lost their original religious meaning in most parts of Mexico, they remain an essential part of Las Posadas,” Font said. “They are commonly filled with candy (originally representing the forgiveness of sins and a new beginning). In more traditional celebrations you’ll find them filled with small fruits, cookies and peanuts.”

There are other treats served during Las Posadas.

“Aguinaldo, or bolo, are little candy bags that hosts hand out to the guests at the end of the posada. Ponche Navideno is a Mexican Christmas fruit punch,” Font said. “It is a hot, flavorful drink that is, for many, synonymous with the holidays. Its ingredients vary from state to state, but it is traditionally prepared with tejocote (Mexican hawthorn), sugarcane, tamarind, apple, pear, guava and cinnamon sticks.

“Some hosts will also offer their adult guests ponche con piquete – punch with a sting of alcohol, usually tequila or rum.”

Arturo Cardenas of Little Flower Catholic Church has fond memories of celebrating Las Posadas.

“I grew up on a ranch that every year we celebrate Las Posadas, and our uncles or our grandfather made us El Baculo … a carrizo (cane) with figures on top usually circles, angels, etc, and covered with (graphic) paper with small bells hanging on it to make sound, or jingle bells,” Cardenas said.

“We used to pray the rosary, then at the end we asked for ‘Posada’ with a series of songs. Then at the end, we received ‘El Bolo,’ a small bag with candies, nuts, fruit, whatever the family in charge of the day wants to share with the rest of the community.”

Cardenas, a parishioner of Little Flower since 1990, remembers how this celebration has been part of the church. Little Flower, located at 1125 S. Walker Ave. in Oklahoma City, will celebrate Las Posadas Dec. 16-24.

Sacred Heart, located at 2706 S. Shartel Ave. in Oklahoma City, will celebrate Las Posadas on Dec. 16-24, following Holy Mass.

“I do not know the exact date when this tradition became part of our parish, but I can tell you that our parishioners enjoy it as part of our culture, and as part of our spiritual life of the church,” he said. “We are teaching our kids or new generations that traditions and festivities can bring the community together sharing spiritual life and community life as part of our parish.

“We can share prayers, time and the tradition, making unity in our parish. I can see that there is no difference from a long time ago to today with this celebration. We can share many things as one community of faith. We can grow, sharing our experiences, but most of all, we can be together in one prayer as a whole community.”

Jolene Schonchin is a freelance writer for the Sooner Catholic.

Photo: Parishioners from Historic Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Oklahoma City participated in Las Posadas. Photo provided.