December 21, 1960 (22 pages)

. Wednesday, December 21) 1960 CHRISTMAS BOOK Section’2, Page . ] Christmas MEXICO! Posadas, literally meaning lodging, is the designation given to the nine days of Christmas celebration, in commemoration of the difficult journey of Mary and Joseph from Nazareth to Bethlehem begging for lodging each night along the way. They begin on the 16th of December, and in Mexico City the first manifestation is the opening of the puestos or stands along the Alameda,? a park in the very heart of it. These are laden down with pottery, baskets, painted gourds, delightful toys and other popular art objects from all parts of the Republic. The puestos are there for every important festival—such as Holy Week, Mexican Independence, All Saints, etc.—bur at this season the conspicuous articles.ate the marvelously formed little clay personages and animals of the story of the Birth and the gayly colored papier-maché figures that cover earthen jars, to be filled with toys and . SOUTH O sweets, Called piiatas, the most important « fun-making element of the Posadas. Posadas ate never just a one-family affair. Friends and relatives cooperate, and they are held in different houses; and in the city casas de vecindad, the Mexican tenement house, with rooms all opening on one big patio or court, all neighbors celebrate together, each contributing his share of the expenses. After dark a procession is formed, everybody, including the children, taking part. It is preceded by two children carrying a small litter, decorated with pine twigs, upon which Mary, riding the burro, followed by Joseph and the angel, are represented by little figures. All carry candles and sing the Litany. When that is ‘finished they stop at the house destined to admit the travelers and in song awaken the sleepy. inmates. The man of the house, casero, answers singing and tells them not to disturb his rest, threatening them with beatings if they will not go on. But when he is convinced of the importance of the travelers, the doors are opened wide and they are admitted amidst great rejoicing. Upon entering, all kneel to say the Ave Maria and an Our Father, after which the children ask for the basket of sweets and toys in humorous verses. Then follows the social part of the Posadas, which always includes refreshments and_ often dancing. But the most hilarious part of it comes with the breaking of the piiata. ~ Itis hung high where it dangles in an open space. All gather around. One is blindfolded, whirled around, given a stick, sent off in the wrong direction while 1 Frances Toor in ‘‘Mexican folkways.'' México, D.F., December 1$26-January 1927. Vol. 2, no. 5. Iilustration on p. 16 from same source. ® Now moved to the Plaza de la Republica. Reprinted from “Christmas In Latin America" published by The Pan American Union F THE BOR everyone sings funny home-brewed verses, praising the pitata, but admonishing that it be broken without compassion. Someone always takes care, however, to keep it out of reach. After several have tried and it is finally smashed, there is a merry scramble for the contents. Among the less religious, the Posadas are reduced to mere dayicing and the breaking of the pitata. fing the eight nights the same program is repeated with some variations in the prayers, refreshments, and a new pinata. On the ninth, at the end of the journey, they prepare for the Birth. . . . ‘In front of the manger scene, little children dressed as shepherds are placed in two wings between which the godmother and godfather pass with the Holy Infant. . . As they place the Infant upon the manger, a Litany is entoned by all those kneeling, and then He is sung to sleep by the Rorro. At midnight there are fireworks, whistles, bells. Churches are full of the ‘faithful attending the midnight “Mass of the Cock"’ (Misa del Gallo). The dinner which follows the midnight mass is for some a banquet with all sorts of special dishes, while others serve only the lamb and wine. A specialty of the Posadas, served at this dinner and also baked and served on the streets, are butuelos, a thin pancake eaten with a brown-sugar sauce. Present-giving is not a custom on Christmas, but on January 6th, the day of Jos Reyes Magos (the Wise Men), the children put their shoes on the balconies and the Wyse Men fill them with toys. The Infant Jesus remains in the manger always until January 6th, but more generally until the 2nd of February, Candlemas, when He is. taken up and the godParents give a party. He is picked up, dressed and put on a tray surrounded by flowers. On this occasion it is customary to bake a tiny figure of an infant into a rosca, a round cake, and he who finds it has to give another party. The Posadas, being religious, are decidedly Spanish in origin, but like everything else that has been introduced by the Spaniards, they have assumed an IndianMexican character. The Midnight Mass and the supper following are the same here as in Spain, with the exception of some difference in the dishes, but the procession and the, asking for lodging is original in Mexico. Also the breaking of the pitiata during the Posada nights is not part of the Spanish custom, although the idea is Spanish. The ‘‘Sunday of the Pifiata’’in Spain follows the three days’ carnival which. introduces the Lenten season. Mexican influence has even reached Spain, for the so-called Mexican “Figures of the Birth"’ are very popular in the Christmas puestos in Madrid. SPECIAL FEATURE f ( DER ff Christmas in Mexico begins on, Dec. 15 and lasts until a week Dec. 16-Jan. 6 after New Year's Day. The emphasis here is less on giftgiving, more on fiestas and religious ceremony, both neatly rolled into one via the traditional Posadas, or re-enactments of the search for lodgings by Mary and Joseph as shown in the old engraving at the left. The Posada usually ends up with the smashing of the pifata and partymaking until dawn. Dec 12 This is a day of great significance i to Catholics in all of the Americas, but especially to those living in Mexico, It commemorates the apparition in 153: of Our Lady of Guadalupe to a poor indian named Juan Diego. Many thousands of pilgrims make an annual trek to the Basilica of Guadalupe near Mexico City on this day, and to remember the occasion they take back with them all kinds of relics and souvenirs. Among the.most popular are photographs taken against this special Guadalupe backdrop. reetings Bluebird Cafe NO MillSt.. Grass Valley :

. Wednesday, December 21) 1960 CHRISTMAS BOOK Section’2, Page . ] Christmas MEXICO! Posadas, literally meaning lodging, is the designation given to the nine days of Christmas celebration, in commemoration of the difficult journey of Mary and Joseph from Nazareth to Bethlehem begging for lodging each night along the way. They begin on the 16th of December, and in Mexico City the first manifestation is the opening of the puestos or stands along the Alameda,? a park in the very heart of it. These are laden down with pottery, baskets, painted gourds, delightful toys and other popular art objects from all parts of the Republic. The puestos are there for every important festival—such as Holy Week, Mexican Independence, All Saints, etc.—bur at this season the conspicuous articles.ate the marvelously formed little clay personages and animals of the story of the Birth and the gayly colored papier-maché figures that cover earthen jars, to be filled with toys and . SOUTH O sweets, Called piiatas, the most important « fun-making element of the Posadas. Posadas ate never just a one-family affair. Friends and relatives cooperate, and they are held in different houses; and in the city casas de vecindad, the Mexican tenement house, with rooms all opening on one big patio or court, all neighbors celebrate together, each contributing his share of the expenses. After dark a procession is formed, everybody, including the children, taking part. It is preceded by two children carrying a small litter, decorated with pine twigs, upon which Mary, riding the burro, followed by Joseph and the angel, are represented by little figures. All carry candles and sing the Litany. When that is ‘finished they stop at the house destined to admit the travelers and in song awaken the sleepy. inmates. The man of the house, casero, answers singing and tells them not to disturb his rest, threatening them with beatings if they will not go on. But when he is convinced of the importance of the travelers, the doors are opened wide and they are admitted amidst great rejoicing. Upon entering, all kneel to say the Ave Maria and an Our Father, after which the children ask for the basket of sweets and toys in humorous verses. Then follows the social part of the Posadas, which always includes refreshments and_ often dancing. But the most hilarious part of it comes with the breaking of the piiata. ~ Itis hung high where it dangles in an open space. All gather around. One is blindfolded, whirled around, given a stick, sent off in the wrong direction while 1 Frances Toor in ‘‘Mexican folkways.'' México, D.F., December 1$26-January 1927. Vol. 2, no. 5. Iilustration on p. 16 from same source. ® Now moved to the Plaza de la Republica. Reprinted from “Christmas In Latin America" published by The Pan American Union F THE BOR everyone sings funny home-brewed verses, praising the pitata, but admonishing that it be broken without compassion. Someone always takes care, however, to keep it out of reach. After several have tried and it is finally smashed, there is a merry scramble for the contents. Among the less religious, the Posadas are reduced to

mere dayicing and the breaking of the pitata. fing the eight nights the same program is repeated with some variations in the prayers, refreshments, and a new pinata. On the ninth, at the end of the journey, they prepare for the Birth. . . . ‘In front of the manger scene, little children dressed as shepherds are placed in two wings between which the godmother and godfather pass with the Holy Infant. . . As they place the Infant upon the manger, a Litany is entoned by all those kneeling, and then He is sung to sleep by the Rorro. At midnight there are fireworks, whistles, bells. Churches are full of the ‘faithful attending the midnight “Mass of the Cock"’ (Misa del Gallo). The dinner which follows the midnight mass is for some a banquet with all sorts of special dishes, while others serve only the lamb and wine. A specialty of the Posadas, served at this dinner and also baked and served on the streets, are butuelos, a thin pancake eaten with a brown-sugar sauce. Present-giving is not a custom on Christmas, but on January 6th, the day of Jos Reyes Magos (the Wise Men), the children put their shoes on the balconies and the Wyse Men fill them with toys. The Infant Jesus remains in the manger always until January 6th, but more generally until the 2nd of February, Candlemas, when He is. taken up and the godParents give a party. He is picked up, dressed and put on a tray surrounded by flowers. On this occasion it is customary to bake a tiny figure of an infant into a rosca, a round cake, and he who finds it has to give another party. The Posadas, being religious, are decidedly Spanish in origin, but like everything else that has been introduced by the Spaniards, they have assumed an IndianMexican character. The Midnight Mass and the supper following are the same here as in Spain, with the exception of some difference in the dishes, but the procession and the, asking for lodging is original in Mexico. Also the breaking of the pitiata during the Posada nights is not part of the Spanish custom, although the idea is Spanish. The ‘‘Sunday of the Pifiata’’in Spain follows the three days’ carnival which. introduces the Lenten season. Mexican influence has even reached Spain, for the so-called Mexican “Figures of the Birth"’ are very popular in the Christmas puestos in Madrid. SPECIAL FEATURE f ( DER ff Christmas in Mexico begins on, Dec. 15 and lasts until a week Dec. 16-Jan. 6 after New Year's Day. The emphasis here is less on giftgiving, more on fiestas and religious ceremony, both neatly rolled into one via the traditional Posadas, or re-enactments of the search for lodgings by Mary and Joseph as shown in the old engraving at the left. The Posada usually ends up with the smashing of the pifata and partymaking until dawn. Dec 12 This is a day of great significance i to Catholics in all of the Americas, but especially to those living in Mexico, It commemorates the apparition in 153: of Our Lady of Guadalupe to a poor indian named Juan Diego. Many thousands of pilgrims make an annual trek to the Basilica of Guadalupe near Mexico City on this day, and to remember the occasion they take back with them all kinds of relics and souvenirs. Among the..most popular are photographs taken against this special Guadalupe backdrop. reetings Bluebird Cafe NO MillSt.... Grass Valley :