posada

What is Posada? Posada is a Spanish word meaning ‘inn’. Posada celebrations originated in Mexico where two young people were chosen to dress up as Mary and Joseph. They used to travel from house to house in their village telling people about the imminent arrival of Jesus and asking them if they would give Him a room. On Christmas Eve they would re-enact a community play and bring figures of Mary and Joseph to be placed in a crib.The modern day equivalent is based on this concept but encourages people to give a home to the nativity figures of Mary and Joseph for a night. This symbolises making room for Jesus in our lives, homes and communities. The journey encourages us to think about the meaning of Christmas and to share the message with others.

Posada in Windlesham. Each night from 1st December the figures travel around the parish from place to place arriving in Church at our Nativity service on Christmas Eve. Often people have a meal or children’s tea together to pass the figures on.

You can sign up on the poster in the Link if you’d like to offer the nativity figures an “inn” for the night.

If you’ve signed up already, you might want to look at the Church Army web-site that has games, colouring sheets and lanterns to make – all to do with Posada.