By Karen Gleason
The 830 Times
Christmas traditions from Mexico were celebrated Saturday at Del Rio’s Casa De La Cultura.
At the center of the celebration is the Christian Christmas story, beginning with the journey of Joseph and Mary to find a safe haven for Mary to give birth to the baby Jesus, re-enacted as “La Posada.”
“La Posada” is based on the Biblical story of the journey of Joseph and Mary, recounted in the Gospel of Luke, in Luke 2:1-7.
The King James version tells the story as follows: “1And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed.2 (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)3 And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.
4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.
7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.”
On Saturday, Casa volunteers carried a clay statue of Joseph leading a donkey carrying the pregnant Mary to several homes fringing the historic Brown Plaza in south Del Rio.
The volunteers were preceded by traditional dancers called matachines, whose dances venerate the Virgin Mother, and accompanied by a throng of singers who stop with the procession at the houses and sing out a request for shelter.
At each house, singers inside respond to the choral request, turning the Holy Family away. Returning to the Casa, they finally find shelter, and the Christmas celebrations can begin.
As preparations for the procession are finalized, other Casa volunteers are busy preparing a holiday feast, complete with tamales, beans, fried rice and a traditional Christmas pastry called buñuelos.
Once the posada procession is complete, Casa volunteers get ready to feed hundreds of visitors. One long-time volunteer said the Casa typically feeds 350 people during the event.
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