Christmas Posadas in Mexico, what is their origin?

Christmas posadas are now a deeply rooted tradition in Mexico. They are the result of the evangelization efforts of the Mesoamerican peoples during the Spanish conquest.

Along with the festivities dedicated to the Virgin of Guadalupe on December 12, posadas became key events in the religious fusion of Mesoamerican and Spanish cultures.

How did Christmas posadas come about?

They were originally conceived as a way to replace the celebrations dedicated to the god Huitzilopochtli. Another goal was to facilitate conversion to Catholicism. however, they evolved over time into celebrations that transcended the religious.

For the Mexica, the Posadas were held during the month of Panquetzaliztli. In today’s calendar, it lasts from December 6th to the 26^th. During these days of celebration the arrival of Huitzilopochtli, the God of the Sun and War, was awaited.

Likewise, from the night of December 24th to the 25th, people would gather to await the arrival of the winter solstice. They would share food with guests and offer small statues called “tzoatl”.

In 1587, a religious from the convent of San Agustín (State of Mexico) got permission from Pope Sixtus V to hold indoctrination ceremonies in New Spain.

You may also like: Christmas in Mexico: cultural and cuisine traditions

Thus, the conquistadors took advantage of the coincidence between the dates of the Mexica and Catholic celebrations. They transformed the posadas into “aguinaldo masses”, so called because they were offered as a Christmas gift or “aguinaldo”.

When are Christmas Posadas Celebrated?

The posadas evolved over the centuries, moving from temples to haciendas and finally to homes and neighborhoods. They began to be held from December 16 to 24, marking a period of nine days before Christmas.

After Mexico’s independence, the custom of attending the “misas de aguinaldo” declined. It was rescued by faithful followers and transformed into the tradition of posadas. Over the years, they incorporated other festive elements such as piñatas and sparklers.