La Gran Posada conducted by San Fernando Cathedral took place downtown on a chilly Sunday evening December 18, with Mary and Joseph preceded by a retinue to angels and shepherds comprised of religious education students from the cathedral.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The crowd made its way through Market Square to Mi Terra and La Margarita restaurants, and processed down Dolorosa Street to the Spanish Governor\u2019s Palace, City Hall, and the Bexar County Courthouse, where the crowd was greeted by County Judge Peter Sakai, who informed them that there was no room at the inn. The 300 or so participants then crossed the street into Main Plaza and finally San Fernando Cathedral, where there was singing and later a reception with champurrado \u2013 Mexican hot chocolate — and sweet bread in the Plaza de la Cruz.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In the days before Christmas, the traditional \u201cposadas\u201d are usually celebrated at parishes throughout the archdiocese and also in Mexico, recalling the difficulties of St. Joseph and the Virgin Mary in finding a place for Jesus to be born.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But how did this custom come about?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Father Jos\u00e9 de Jes\u00fas Aguilar, deputy director of Radio and Television for the Primatial Archdiocese of Mexico, explained that the posadas, which means \u201cinns\u201d in Spanish, are the fruit of the inculturation of the Gospel in the New World.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In a video, the priest highlighted that \u201cthe Gospel reached these lands with the preaching of the first groups of missionaries: Franciscans, Dominicans, and Augustinians.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe Augustinians discovered that the indigenous people celebrated the birth of the sun with songs and lights around the winter solstice, i.e. from December 20 to 23. So, they decided to compare Christ to the sun and teach that Jesus Christ is the true sun of truth and justice,\u201d the Mexican priest explained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In this way, he said, the Catholic priests \u201ctook advantage of the nocturnal celebrations of pre-Hispanic origin and gave them a new meaning: accompanying Mary and Joseph on their pilgrimage to Bethlehem, looking for lodging.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, it would not be until 1587, when Pope Sixtus V granted special permission to Friar Diego de Soria to celebrate nine evening Masses leading up to the days before Christmas, that the tradition began.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThus, the posadas began with the celebration of nine Masses from December 16 to 24. Later other elements outside the church were added, such as the procession with the pilgrims, the singing of the Marian litany, and the request for an inn (posada) and the pi\u00f1atas.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Today, the procession, or \u201ccaminata,\u201d involves a reenactment of Mary and Joseph\u2019s search for an inn. People hold lit candles and sing hymns. The group either carries figurines of Mary and Joseph or has kids dressed up as them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Neighbors coordinate so that the group will attempt to visit several homes but be turned away, as there was no room at the inn for the Holy Family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Finally, a home welcomes the couple and everyone sings in unison as a door is opened: \u201cEnter, holy pilgrims, receive this corner, for though this dwelling is poor, I offer it with all my heart. Oh, graced pilgrim, oh, most beautiful Mary. I offer you my soul so you may have lodging.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe first posada was held in the Augustinian convent of Acolman, a place very close to Teotihuac\u00e1n,\u201d said Father Aguilar, noting that \u201cwith the passage of time they began to celebrate in neighborhoods, streets, and patios, taking on a more totally popular character.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Teotihuac\u00e1n was a pre-Hispanic pagan religious center and the site of the Pyramids of the Sun and the Moon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The pi\u00f1ata, one of the most characteristic elements of the posadas, \u201chad its origins in China and was used on holidays,\u201d the priest said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Originally they were made \u201cwith wooden rods and paper, something very similar to lanterns,\u201d but when the pi\u00f1atas came to Italy they underwent a transformation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThere, a clay pot was used as a base, which was shaped into a pine cone or other plants, with pieces of paper from China. That\u2019s why it was called a pi\u00f1ata.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhen the pi\u00f1ata came to Mexico, it took the shape of the star of Bethlehem and continues to take many more shapes,\u201d the priest explained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Another interpretation of the seven points of the pi\u00f1ata is that they represent the seven deadly sins of pride, envy, greed, lust, gluttony, sloth, and wrath.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The stick the children use to beat the pi\u00f1ata represents virtue and being blindfolded represents faith. The candy falling to the ground is symbolic of God\u2019s mercy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Catholic News Agency contributed to this article.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
La Gran Posada conducted by San Fernando Cathedral took place downtown on a chilly Sunday evening December 18, with Mary and Joseph preceded by a retinue to angels and shepherds comprised of religious education students from the cathedral. The crowd made its way through Market Square to Mi Terra and La Margarita restaurants, and processed […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":18948,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[153],"tags":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n