Posada is a Latin American tradition which re-enacts the journey of Mary and Joseph as they travel on foot from Nazareth in the north of Israel to Bethlehem in the south for the birth of the baby Jesus; a distance of about 130km (80 miles). As they travelled, they would need somewhere to rest each night – Posada is Spanish for an inn or lodging place.
In Mexico, Las Posadas would take place on the nine days culminating in Christmas Eve and is accompanied by pilgrims signing special songs and the figures of Mary and Joseph then join a nativity scene in the house in which they stay overnight. In school, Mary and Joseph (and their donkey) spent one night in each classroom until they are bought into church for our Christmas Eucharist.
