My Neighborhood Posada

Last week I loaded up the camera with a new battery and the lens I thought I'd use, plus I had a wider angle lens right beside it for quick pickup. I wanted to be ready when I heard the music outside that signaled the neighborhood Posada. The Posadas are held during the nine days before Christmas and are a recreation of Mary and Joseph looking for a place to stay. There is a traditional song that the children sing at each stop along the way asking for a room for Mary and Joseph.

In the past we have had some very elaborate Posadas around my street with Mary on a donkey, a band, and everyone walking with candles. When Mary and Joseph finally find a place to stay and all the prayers are said, piñatas are strung across the street and the children have a great time whacking at it until finally it is broken and candy falls. There are usually traditional foods and ponche and bags of oranges and goodies for everyone.

If that happened on my street this year, I missed it but last night I did hear a group singing in the street. I grabbed a jacket and my camera and headed out. It was a large group that was lead by the same truck that usually leads processions from the San Antonio Church. There was a keyboard in the bed of the truck and someone was leading the music interspersed with readings and prayers from the priest. This time there were statues of Mary and Joseph carried by some of the women, not a "real" Mary on a "real" donkey. And there were not any candles. I followed along for a way until I was sure that they were headed to the San Antonio Church then I headed back home. I hope that when they got to the plaza in front of the church that there are piñatas, ponche and food for everyone.

I hope that the wonderful posadas in the little neighborhoods in the Colonia are still happening and I just missed the one on my street this year.