lindsay posada!!

HISTORY AND MEANING


Las Posadas (Spanish for "The Inns") is a nine-day celebration beginning December 16 and ending December 24. It is a tradition celebrated by many Latino and symbolizes the trials which they believe Mary and Joseph endured before finding a place to stay where Jesus could be born. Groups of children and adults (representing Mary and Joseph, or the pilgrims/peregrinos) go from house to house singing a traditional song, Santos Peregrinos, requesting lodging(posada). In each house, the owner responds with refusal (also in song) until they reach the designated site for the party, where the owner recognizes them and allows them to come in. Once the "innkeepers" let them in, the group of guests come into the home and kneel around the Nativity scene to pray. This is followed by the singing of traditional Christmas songs and a party for the children, including a pinata. For the adults there is always "ponche" which is a hot beverage or punch made out of seasonal fruis and cinnamon sticks, with a shot of alcoholic spirit.

POSADA AT LINDSAY

We began the day with small groups of girls presenting their posada projects to the class. The projects included extensive histories of the tradition and personal accounts. Some examples include:

* Ingrith, Sonia and Diana explained that the pinata should have 7 points which represent the 7 deadly sins, which will vanish as one breaks off the points and are showered with dulce goodness!

* Kiara, Maritza and Andrea's research said the tradition dates back to the sixteenth century when Spanish priests used the festival to teach Aztecs about the birth of Christ.

* Ingrith sang the traditional posada song!

* Joana F. shared the way in which her family uses this holiday as a time for the whole family to get together once a year, in her front yard, and enjoy each others company.

After the presentations, the kids broke a pinata in the quad!

After the pinata, many of the girls brought food for our posada potluck!!
Some of the many dishes included:
* tamales - dawn y pam
* ponche - judith
* abondigas - kiara
* arroz - andrea
* fried chicken - bea
* jello y frutas - maria
* flan -
* cheesecake - alexis & deanna
* chips y soda - ruthie
* cupcakes - ana t
* pinata y dulce - marlene

the best part of the potluck was the SALSA CONTEST!!!!
winning homemade salsas included:
* Celia - salsa verde con roasted jalepenos
* Maria - roja caliente
* Alexis - salsa verde
* Catalina - salsa roja
* Ingrith - salsa roja