LAS POSADAS By: Shannon Jones

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LAS POSADAS By Shannon Jones

• MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM MEXICO TO YOU!
• (A third through fifth grade lesson)

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What is Las Posadas?

• In Mexico, Christmas begins with Las Posadas,
  nine days in a row of candlelight and parties
  that start December 16 and end on December 24 or
  Noche Buena (Holy Night)

3
What does Las Posadas mean?

• In Spanish, las posadas means inn or lodging
• The Las Posadas procession (or parade) represents
  Mary and Josephs search for a place to stay in
  Bethlehem.
• The procession is usually made up of children
  recreating the events.

4
How does the procession take place?

• The procession starts with two children dressed
  as Mary and Joseph.

5
How does the procession take place?

• Mary and Joseph are accompanied by other
  children dressed as angels, the wise men, and
  pastores y pastoras (shepards and shepardesses).
• The children stop at designated houses to sing a
  traditional litany or prayer asking for shelter.

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How does the procession take place?

• At the final house, the couple is told there is
  no room, but they may stay in the stable.
• Then, the door is thrown open and all are invited
  to come in.

7
Why celebrate Las Posadas?

• Las Posadas helps teach children the story of the
  Nativity and keeps the spirit of Navidad alive.

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What happens now?

• Once everyone is inside, they sing songs and eat
  lots of food, especially cookies and punch.
• The best part is that the children get to break
  open the piñata!

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What songs do they sing?

• En Nombre Del Cielo (Prayer Give Us
• Lodging)
• http//www.angelfire.com/me/music17/
• ennombre.html

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What is a piñata?

• A piñata can be made using a round balloon and
  covering the entire surface with strips of
  newspaper that are covered in glue. Once the
  paper dries you can decorate the piñata with
  colorful paint and paper. After it is decorated,
  cut a hole in the top and fill it with candy and
  toys.

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What kind of cookies?

• A favorite cookie for Las Posada is Bunuelos.
  They are made from flour, sugar and salt and
  fried, then they are covered with a honey glaze.
• Another favorite is Tea Wreaths, they are cut
  into circles and decorated with candied cherries
  and chopped pistachio nuts.

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Comparisons

• Mexico
• celebration begins Dec. 19 w/ Las Posada
• Live processions featuring Mary and Joseph that
  go door to door
• Spiritual
• Feasting
• Piñatas filled with candy and toys

• United States
• Celebration begins Dec. 24
• Live nativities featuring Mary and Joseph and
  caroling door to door
• Spiritual
• Feasting
• Stockings filled with candy and toys
• Santa Clause

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Questions

• How do you say Merry Christmas in Mexico?
• What does Las Posadas mean in English?
• Identify some similarities between how we
  celebrate Christmas in the United States and Las
  Posadas.
• Identify some differences.

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Lesson Extension

• Go to http//www.mexconnect.com/mex_/christmas.htm
  l and
• investigate at least one other Mexican Christmas
  tradition and compare/contrast it to a tradition
  from the United States.
• Present your findings to the class through a
  statement, pictures, video or any acceptable
  media.

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Read to find out more

• The Night of Las Posadas by Tomie dePaola.
• Las Posadas An Hispanic Christmas Celebration by
  Diane Hoyt-Goldsmith

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Activities

• To celebrate Las Posada we will
• Make a piñata to fill and break
• Eat traditional Mexican cookies such as tea
  wreaths and bunuelos

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Recipes

• Tea Wreaths
• 1 orange
• ¾ cup butter
• 2 eggs
• ½ tsp salt
• ½ c shelled pistachio nuts, finely chopped
• Candied red and green cherries
• 2 1/2c flour
• 2/3 c sugar
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 egg white

• Grate orange and save 1 tsp peel and 2 tsp juice.
  Into a large bowl, measure flour, butter, sugar,
  eggs, baking powder, salt, juice and peel. Beat
  at low speed till well mixed. Shape dough into a
  ball and wrap in plastic wrap, chill 2-3 hours.
  On lightly floured surface roll 1/3 of the dough
  1.4 thick (keep the rest chilled). With floured
  2 ½ doughnut cutter, cut into circles. Preheat
  oven to 375. Place cookies 1 apart on lightly
  greased cookie sheet. Brush tops with egg whites
  and sprinkle with chopped nuts. Cut candied
  cherries into petal shapes and press into dough.
  Bake 10-12 minuts.

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Recipes

• Bunuelos
• 2 cups flour
• ½ tsp baking powder
• ¼ c milk
• 1 tbsp sugar
• 2 eggs
• 2 tbsp melted butter
• 4 c oil for frying
• Glaze
• ½ c honey
• 1tsp lemon juice
• Heat until warm and spoon over bunuelos!

• Combine 1 ¾ cups flour with sugar, salt, and
  baking powder. In another bowl, beat eggs and
  milk and butter. Add to dry ingredients. Stir
  until the dough holds together. Stir in
  additional flour, about 1 tbsp at a time until
  dough is not sticky. Turn dough on to a lightly
  floured surface and let stand twenty minutes.
  Roll dough paper thin. Cut with doughnut cuter
  and stack between waxy paper. Heat oil to 375,
  fry dough a few at a time until puffed, about 30
  seconds a side. Turn only once. Drain. Glaze
  immediately

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Bibliography

• http//www.standy.org/lasposada.html
• This website contains simple information about
  las posada and supplied directions for making a
  piñata and the recipes for the cookies.
• http//www.mexconnect.com/mex_/christmas.html
• This website has information about several
  Mexican Christmas traditions and contained two of
  the pictures used in this presentation (slides 2
  and 4).
• http//www.angelfire.com/me/music17/enombre.html
• At this website, I was able to find words to the
  popular carol sang for las posadas. There are
  many lyrics at this site in a multitude of
  languages.
• www.picsearch.com
• This is where I found the other pictures and clip
  art depicting Las Posadas.

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Bibliography

• DePaola, T. (1999) The Night of Las Posadas. New
  York Penguin Putnam Books for Young Children.
• Hoyt-Goldsmith, D. (2000) Las Posada An Hispanic
  Christmas Celebration. New York Holiday House.