Have you ever heard the word posada and are wondering what it is? Christmas posadas in Mexico are nine days of religious observance that is celebrated in Latin America, Mexico, Guatemala, and Cuba. Posada festivities initiate on December 16th and end on December 24th. Celebrated together by families and friends, posadas are a chance to value the culture of Mexican and Spanish traditions and has been observed in Mexico for over 400 years. A great time for family gatherings to come together and celebrate Christmas, posadas are a religious tradition that has staying power. Continue reading below if you want more information on Christmas Posadas in Cabo.
Posadas begin each year on December 16th and end on Christmas Eve on December 24th.
The celebration is a 9-day commemoration of the journey of Mary and Joseph from Nazareth to Bethlehem. Each night during the 9 day period, you will notice candlelit processions and reenactments throughout Cabo town and residential neighborhoods. Processions finish with cozy get-togethers where everyone is treated to an abundance of great food and drink. Many other Mexican holidays also include dramatizations of original events, and the posada tradition was based on Biblical plays that were designed to share religious doctrine with a largely illiterate population in Europe in the 10th and 11th centuries.
In Mexico, Christmas Eve is the most important day of the season as opposed to Christmas Day.
Known in Spanish as Nochebuena, Christmas Eve is the official culmination of the posada festivities and the birth of Christ is celebrated at midnight. Many families also attend a traditional midnight mass, then head back home for dinner and opening presents. On Christmas Day, families enjoy relaxing at home and eating the tasty Nochebuena dinner leftovers.
As with most Mexican celebrations, food and drink are a huge part of a posada. Traditionally, everyone contributes to the dinner by bringing a dish to share. Popular foods at a Mexican posada include tamales, mole, menudo and sweetbreads. Ponche is a typical posada drink derived from sugar cane, prunes, apples and the fruit of the tejocotes (a hawthorn bush). During a posada, families and friends across Mexico share a meal as they celebrate the Christmas season together.
Want to experience a posada in the Cabo San Lucas area?
Even if you don’t know a family or have friends in the area, vacationers and visitors are welcome to join in on the fun as many local resorts and restaurants offer special Christmas dinners with a posada theme.