Christmas Eve Activities

FELIZ NAVIDAD
Christmas in Mexico begins December 12th to January 6th. From December 16th to Christmas Eve, children often attend Posadas or processions looking for the inn for the baby Jesus. There are nine Posadas. The outside of homes are decorated with moss, paper lanterns and evergreens.

In each Posada children are given a board decorated with painted clay figures of Mary riding on a donkey and Joseph. The go house to house and sing a song at each home. The song is about Mary and Joseph asking for a room. At each home the children are told that there is no room and that they must go away. Finally they are told there is room and they are welcomed in, and a party begins.

Each succeeding night a different home hosts the Posada party. On the final Posada, Christmas Eve, a manger and figures of shepherds are put on the board. When the Posada house has been found a baby Jesus is put in the manger and then families go to a midnight Church service.

One game that is often played at the Posada parties, is the pinata. It is often shaped like a ball with seven peaks around it, but it can also be in the form of an animal or bird, or donkey, as ours was.

I looked high and low and finally found a pinata at Tesco just before Christmas Eve for Elder Salinas. So on Christmas Eve morning we had the elders and sisters come to our flat outside door at 10am for a surprise.

We had to prepare the pinata, taking off the circle tab on the back and filling it with wrapped candy.

Don't hit Elder Ladle, Elder Salinas.

Have to stop and repair the Pinata.

You, can do it.

One more repair.

Everyone needs a turn. Go Sister Walton.

Sister Morton, one careful swing.

Elder Beckstrand hit it under the car on left. We picked up all the candy and paper.








What else did we do on Christmas EVE? We sang Christmas Carols in the shopping square. Most people who sing there have suitcases or cans for people to leave money. We did not. People didn't know what to do. Many stood behind us and listened so as not to have us aware. A few brave souls stood with us in the bitter cold and listened, especially the children. They would stop and make their parents or grandparents stop usually until the song was done. It was a great Christmas memory.