La Posada

All through December here, there are these parties called "posadas". Actually, from December 1-15 it is considered a "Pre-posada", after that until Christmas it´s the real deal. Posada means "Inn". The ones I´ve gone to so far vary greatly, from quiet sit down dinners to loud "entire-extended-family" style dances. There is really only one thing they have in common: singing the Posada. What is the Posada? It´s a call and response song where half of the people go outside onto the street to sing Joseph´s part, the other half stay in and are the inn-keeper. I always go out.

I am going to translate the song for you here in a minute, but before I do, I would like to share a Bible verse. Yes, a Bible verse. Before we delve into the drama and emotion that is THE posada, I´d like to draw atention to how understated this event is in scripture:

Luke 2:6-7 (NIV) (6) While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, (7) and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in clothes and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

That´s it. All it says is that there wasn´t room for them in the inn. This is the only time this is mentioned in the entire Bible. Bear that in mind. If I were saying this outloud, I would clear my throat dramatically at this point:

The First Petition

Joseph: In the name of heaven, we ask that you let us enter the inn, since my beloved wife cannot move!
Inn-keeper: This is not an inn! Pass along, I don´t have to open, not for some villian. 


Joseph: Don´t be inhumane, have the charity that God in heaven rewards!
Inn-keeper: Go already and don´t bother me. If I get angry I will beat you!

The Second Petition


Joseph: We come from Nazareth, I am a carpenter named Joseph.
Inn-keeper: I don´t care what your name is. Let me sleep, I already told you that we are not going to open.

Joseph: I ask for your inn, your beloved home, the Queen of Heaven needs it just for one night!
Inn-keeper: Well, since a queen is asking: How is it that during the night she is walking so alone?

The Third Petition


Joseph: My wife is Mary, she is the Queen of Heaven and is going to be the mother of the Divine Word!
Inn-keeper: Are you Joseph?
Joseph: YES!
Inn-keeper: And your wife is Mary?
Joseph: YES!
Inn-keeper: Then welcome pilgrims! I didn´t recognize you.

Joseph: May God pay you for your charity Sir, and fill your sky with happiness!
Inn-keeper: Blessed is the house that this day can shelter the pure virgen, the beautiful Mary.

At the Doors´Opening


All: Enter Pilgrim-Saints, Pilgrims! Receive this mansion! Although the dwelling is poor we give it with all our hearts!

We sing with great happiness! Happiness with everything considered: Jesus, Joseph and Mary. Yes Mary, we come today to honor.



That inn-keeper sure had a change of heart after Joseph whipped out the whole: "My wife is the queen of heaven" thing, right? He went from "Imma BEAT you!" to "Blessed is the house that can shelter pure, beautiful, Mary" and all within two stanzas!


I´m not Catholic, so I don´t feel that I am in a position to poke fun at any of this. I will say that AWANA (see below) would have been EPIC if instead of NIV we used a Mexican interperatation of the scriptures. Can you imagine what they could do with some of the really dramatic scripture lessons? This was an inconvenience briefly mentioned in one verse. We could probably spend hours doing dramatic call and responses with any one of the parables, and I´m surprised they don´t have operas about those Old Testament battles.

But really, this is a fun, multi-generational tradition. Everyone holds birthday candles while we sing and afterwards we eat and dance and it´s a good time. I´ve already been to several of these and am invited to four more before next Saturday. If I don´t have this song memorized by the time New Years rolls around it will be an act of willful defiance. Happy December 11th!


A note for those of you unfamiliar with AWANA: A.W.A.N.A. stands for Approved Workmen Are Not Ashamed. (2 Timothy 2:15 Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth). It is a club I was a part of from the time I was 3 until I was 14. We memorize a lot of Bible verses, have studies, complete challenges, play games, fun stuff. You work your way through these books, and by the time I was done I had memorized something like 550 verses and learned quite a bit of biblical triva to boot. :) My favorite social studies teacher had daily trivia quizzes in class and consistently referred to me as "Bible Girl". But all kidding aside, I really feel passionate about this program and think it does great work.