Las Posadas: a Hispanic Christmas Celebration

Review by Ariadna Sánchez

Las Posadas have started. It’s time to celebrate. Christmas is almost here!

A delightful book to read today is Las Posadas: a Hispanic Christmas Celebration written by Diane Hoyt-Goldsmith and photographed by Lawrence Migdale. This informative non-fiction book illustrates Las Posadas (a religious celebration of Mary and Joseph looking for shelter).

Las Posadas is a nine-day celebration with origins in Spain. It’s celebrated mainly in Mexico, Latin America and in some parts of the United States. Las Posadas begin on December 16^th and they end on December 24^th.

Posada means lodging or inn in English. Las Posadas are full of spirituality, enthusiasm and hope. During Las Posadas, the catholic community gathers to remember the struggles that Mary and Joseph faced to find shelter before the arrival of Jesus. This religious-cultural celebration is based on the novena (nine days of prayer) used in the Catholic Church. After each prayer of the novena, the madrina (host) gives tamales, fruit punch, and candies. The piñatas are the most expected treat for the youngest members of the community.

Las Posadas: a Hispanic Christmas Celebration by Diane Hoyt-Goldsmith and photographs by Lawrence Migdale is based on the experience of eleven-year old Kristen Lucero and her family. They lived in Española, New Mexico. You and your family will learn about the different ways in which the community participates in a posada. At the end of the book you will find the bilingual "Song of Las Posadas".

I’m from Oaxaca, Mexico and this celebration is a huge festivity that brings together the magic of the holidays with the spiritual beliefs of a community. This especial event is also filled with Nochebuenas (poinsettias), faroles (lanterns), piñatas, and the traditional nacimiento (nativity representation).

Let me share with you the lyrics of one of the songs children and adults sing after the prayers to encourage the host to share some treats.

• Anda madrina, no te dilates
  Con la canasta, de los cacahuates
  
  
• Anda madrina, sal del rincón
  Con la canasta de la colación
  
  
• Echen confites y canelones
  Pa’ los muchachos, que son muy tragones
  
  
  
  
  Enjoy the holiday season. Remember, reading gives you wings. Read this book today!
  
  

Christmas Pageantry and the 99%

And we're off... Vamos, pastores, vamos...

by Melinda Palacio

I am a member of El Corro del Presidio de Santa Barbara. Each year, singing in Las Posadas feels different because the weather affects our route. We always start in the Presidio Chapel and continue up and down State Street to La Casa de la Guerra for more singing, tamales, pan dulce, champurrado, and a piñata for the kids.

Checking it twice

Last year, the rain cut our route short and it was too cold for the donkey. On Saturday, everything fell into place with the exception of the little girl, playing the Virgin Mary, who was a little uncomfortable with the idea of riding on a miniature donkey. I can only imagine how the conversation went at the little girl’s home. Her mother was probably excited that her daughter would play Mary. She was dressed elegantly with golden slippers, a blue dress and a lace white mantilla on her head. She was probably told of the honor of playing the holy virgin, riding on the donkey, and being the first to have a crack at the piñata. When her mother put her on the donkey, she wanted to ride sidesaddle, but she kept slipping off. Finally, she agreed to mount the donkey and we were off. First an angel, followed by Joseph and Mary on the donkey, flanked by two adults, and the donkey’s owner who led the miniature animal on a leash like an overgrown puppy.

Pidiendo Posada, State Street, Santa Barbara

People shopping on State Street stopped and sometimes joined in the familiar songs, “Vamos, Pastores, Vamos,” “Humildes Peregrinos,” or “Pastores a Belen.” We mad two stops to ask for room at the Inn. Our first stop in front of Aldo’s restaurant was greeted with applause. Usually, diners don’t know what’s going on and are very surprised. This time, more seemed to be hip to what was happening.

I enjoy participating because the tradition is fun and more important than exchanging gifts or cookies. I love seeing the faces of unexpected shoppers as they see our choral group follow an angel and a child, unmistakably representing the Virgin Mary on a donkey. The sight melts the heart of any cynic or non-believer. We even picked up a few outsiders who were part of the Occupy Santa Barbara Movement. They shook their tambourines and followed us to La Casa de la Guerra, where they enjoyed warm food, music, and new friends.

This year was unusual because the economy was on everyone’s mind. As we walked down State Street, we were reminded by how many businesses from past years are closed or gone. Even at the chapel in introducing the first song, “Kyrie,” Luis Moreno mentioned the Occupy movement and the appropriate analogy of separating us, the 99%, representing pilgrims seeking shelter from the one percentile.

Dos. Two events for next week
December 30, La Bloga publishes its best books of 2011 list
December 30, Registration begins for the Las Comadres teleconference with Melinda Palacio, Julia Amante and Lyn di Lorio, register and join the conversation

Naughty or Nice, Ask for a Book Tonight

Luis Moreno in center, playing the guitar and leading El Coro

This past week in Santa Barbara, I searched for all things virtuos. I'm happy to report there is hope out there for those of you caught up in gift giving, baking, and that mentado Tchaikovsky suite.

Last Wednesday, I took a trolley holiday lights tour of Santa Barbara. Feel free to chortle and hurt your stomach with big belly carcajadas. Yes, I was a tourist in my own town, taking the tourist trolley to look at the neighboring houses with the best Christmas lights display. It was actually fun.

The tour starts off with chocolate chip cookies, hot cocoa and cider. As we rolled down State Street, the driver made sure everyone yelled out, Merry Christmas, after he dinged the bell three times. When we turned into areas I never knew existed, kids came out to say hello and adults saluted with whatever they have in their glass, sometimes dressed up as Santa.

Having the best light display is a way to give something to the community and garner much oohs and aahs from passerbys.

After the Trolley Tour, I felt I had received an angel's windpower and could partake in a week of blaring carols and holiday overload. However, last Friday's, Posadas represented a true spirt of Christmas and communal feel.

Una Noche de Las Posadas is my favorite Christmas activity in Santa Barbara. You don't have to speak Spanish to sing the traditional songs from Mexico. You don't have to miss your favorite midnight mass or wait until the 24th or 25th of December to participate in a spiritual celebration. Plus, in Santa Barbara, there are very few times when you can stop traffic, follow an angel and sing down the street. We usually have a miniature donkey, named Wilson; however, the rain left us with la pata lavada and no donkey. We also shortened our route a bit, but it was grand to see all the people that celebrated with us despite a little rain blessing. This event rates much higher than Santa Barbara's boat or Christmas parades. Thanks to our leader, Luis Moreno, Las Posadas was fun at rehearsals and even more joyous during our rainy trek.

Luis Moreno plays the guitar and keeps everyone in tune. He's been the musical director for the past 20 years. He leads El Coro through four rehearsals of the songs and is very patient with people who don't sing or have never studied music. In fact, he encourages anyone who is interested to join in. "My perspective is the community and we want everyone to participate," he said. "The love put into it is more important." Luis talked about the virtue of giving

back to the community and why he continues to lead El Coro:

"The Love--that's what the story's all about, something that's not commercial. There are so many elements, spiritual and cultural. The traditions go way back before English was spoken here. This is my way of giving back to the community. These are the things I value. I'm continuing a tradition. It makes me feel good."

Along with the virtuous feeling of giving to strangers, texting is the new easy way to give to your favorite charity. My friend Lora texted money to NPR's This American Life. As a PEN USA

Emerging Voices Fellow, I must mention that you can text PEN to 202222 and donate $10 to our thiriving literary community.

If your New Year's resolution is to read more poetry and to keep books in print by supporting authors, I will be joining Luis J. Rodriguez, A. Razor, Hugo Machuca, Rolando Ortiz, and Hannah Wehr at Avenue 50 Studio, 131 N. Avenue 50, Highland Park, on January 23 at 3pm.

Merry Christmas. Manuel Ramos will write a special New Year's Eve column next week. You'll hear from me again the first Friday of 2011. I'll leave you with a childhood memory and a poem I wrote a few days ago.

Buñuelos

©2010 Melinda Palacio

When they are done

Christmas crunches in your mouth.

Think of a sweet tortilla, deep

fried with cinnamon and sugar

left over from last week’s ojarascas,

those lard cookies linger

in the belly during a week

of festive cooking, chocolates, and ham.

After the tamales, before midnight of the New Year,

it’s time to stretch buñuelos on your knee.

Everyone’s gone to champagne parties.

My grandmother hands me the masa disks.

I paper every surface of the house, run

back to the kitchen with urgency.

She rolls them out at a steady, swift pace.

Buñuelos need to dry before they are fried.

An eerie sight for the night.

Melted Dali clocks on chairs,

on the dining room table,

on dish towels over the sofa,

some buñuelos stretched too thin

like old torn sheets. December ends

A New Year begins with last year’s green

Tupperware filled with crisp buñuelos.