More Latin traditions! Today we're going to Mexico.

Las Posadas

The Posada is a kind of representation of the troubles faced by Joseph and the Virgin Mary, trying to find a place where to give birth to the Baby jesus. A group of people goes from house to house, singing something like this:

En el nombre del cielo,
os pido posada...

...until they arrive to the house where the feast will take place, where they're accepted. Then the celebration begins: food, music, games and piñatas are shared by all the guests.

Las Piñatas

Another fundamental element is the piñata. The piñata, along with the song of the litany, the traditional games, the seasonal candies and beverage, summarizes the lessons introduced by the evangelists in the New Spain, on the second half of the XVI century.

The piñatas have their origin at the Mexican colonial time, when the Franciscan friars tried to replace the pagan celebrations. The piñata represents the sin. In the world, sins appears to us like something attractive; therefore, the piñata is colorful and pretty.

It's necessary to beat the piñata with a wood-stick, a symbol of the force given to us by God (trough the Gospel) to fight against sin. The person that beats the piñata is blindfolded, and has to guess where it is. That means we're blind when we fight against sin.

When the piñata is finally broken, fruits and sweet treats fall from within, symbolizing the rewards and blessings that God gives to us, when we overcome sin.

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Again, if any information isn't accurate, or if you wish to add anything, please leave a comment.