The Colorado Adventure

Las Posadas

Las Posadas (Spanish for “the inns”) is a nine-day celebration with origins in Spain beginning December 16 and ending December 24. It is a yearly tradition and symbolizes the trials which Mary and Joseph endured before finding a place to stay where Jesus could be born, based on the passage in the New Testament, the Gospel of Luke (2:1-9):

“Now, at this time Caesar Augustus issued a decree for a census of the whole world to be taken. This census — the first — took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria, and everyone went to his home town to be registered. So Joseph set out from the town of Nazareth in Galilee and traveled up to Judaea, to the town of David called Bethlehem, since he was of David’s House and lineage, in order to be registered together with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. While they were there, the time came for her to have her child, and she gave birth to a son, her first-born. She wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them at the inn. In the countryside close by there were shepherds who lived in the fields and took turns watching their flocks during the night. The angel of the Lord appeared to them and the glory of the Lord shone around them.”

Tonight we went to the Fort and participated in their Las Posadas celebration. The Fort is a restaurant that was once a home. It’s set amongst the red rocks near Morrison and right now is lit up with farolitos along the adobe walls.

We had a slight mishap trying to park, we had to have the help of a few guys to push us up the icy hill from one parking area to the next. Then I slipped on the way into the building, it was really icy.

We picked up candles and warmed up by the fire for a bit.

We ate tamales and drank hot cider before joining the procession. Our lit candles were placed in the snow while we ate.

We walked around the Fort behind Mary and Joseph fending off the devil on the roof with boos and reciting verses in Spanish (provided for us, even Joel’s meager Spanish class couldn’t help here.)

We heard about the various trials of Joseph and Mary and walked to the front of the Fort where we booed the devil again and then walked behind Mary and Joseph as they arrived at the stable (complete with sheep and donkey.)

While they settled in we read more verses and sang in Spanish and petitioned Jesus for His help and mercy in the year.

Mary walked around with baby Jesus and then we sang Silent night like this:

Noche de paz, noche de amor,
Todo duerme en derredor.
Entre sus astros que esparcen su luz
Bella anunciando al niñito Jesús.
Brilla la estrella de paz,
Brilla la estrella de paz.
Noche de paz, noche de amor,
Todo duerme en derredor.
Sólo velan en la oscuridad
Los pastores que en el campo están
Y la estrella de Belén,
Y la estrella de Belén.
Noche de paz, noche de amor,
Todo duerme en derredor.
Sobre el santo niño Jesús
Una estrella esparce su luz,
Brilla sobre el Rey,
Brilla sobre el Rey.
Noche de paz, noche de amor,
Todo duerme en derredor;
Fieles velando allí en Belén
Los pastores, la madre también,
Y la estrella de paz,
Y la estrella de paz.

Next the piñata was brought out and the kids lined up by size to hit it, so Hannah was 2nd.

The piñata broke after a few hits so they placed it on the ground to give everyone a chance to hit it. Then they threw candy everywhere, Hannah was so happy to get a piece of the piñata and fill it up with candy.

It was really cold up there in Morrison, probably in the teens. Even with hats, gloves, hot cocoa and cider we got cold after being out there for an hour. It was a very cool thing to be able to participate in though, even if we don’t sing songs in Spanish very well (it’s the thought that counts.)