Las Posadas: Meaning, Traditions and How to Celebrate
Las Posadas is a Mexican Christmas tradition celebrated each night from December 16 to 24. Each evening, a procession reenacts Mary and Joseph’s search for shelter in Bethlehem, singing at doors until a host family lets them in. The night ends with prayers, a piñata, warm ponche and food shared among neighbors, friends and family.
Las Posadas is one of the most loved parts of Christmas in Mexico. For nine nights before Christmas Eve, families and neighbors walk together carrying candles, sing at a host’s door and then celebrate inside. Across Las Posadas Mexico celebrations, it’s part religious tradition and part neighborhood party, filling December evenings with music, light and the smell of warm fruit punch.
This guide explains what Las Posadas means, how a posada works and where the tradition comes from. It also covers the symbols, food and decorations, and how visitors can take part during a December trip to Mexico.
What Is Las Posadas?
The posada meaning is simple: in Spanish, the word means “inn” or “lodging,” so Las Posadas in English translates as “the inns.” The name refers to the shelter Mary and Joseph searched for in Bethlehem before Jesus was born. In the Christmas story, they were turned away again and again before finding a place to stay.
So what is a posada? It’s a celebration that reenacts that search, then turns into a gathering with food, music and a piñata. In Mexico, they’re often called posadas navideñas, or Christmas posadas.
Las Posadas meaning also comes from its length. The celebration lasts nine nights, from December 16 to 24. The nine nights are traditionally said to represent the nine months of Mary’s pregnancy.
How a Posada Works
Every posada follows the same basic pattern, though details vary from town to town and family to family.
- The procession. Guests gather outside, often led by two people dressed as Mary and Joseph or carrying small figures of them. Everyone holds a candle, and some groups carry paper lanterns.
- Asking for shelter. The group stops at the host’s door and begins the traditional song known as pedir posada, or “asking for lodging.” The people inside play the innkeepers and sing back, refusing them.
- The welcome. After several verses back and forth, the hosts recognize the travelers and sing that they’re welcome. The door opens and everyone files inside.
- Prayers and celebration. Many posadas begin with prayers around the Nativity scene. Then comes the party: food, ponche, music and, for the children, the piñata.
Traditionally, the procession moves to a different home each night. On the ninth night, December 24, the posadas end and families gather for Nochebuena, the Christmas Eve dinner.
The History of Las Posadas
The tradition dates back to the late 16th century. Augustinian friars at the convent of San Agustín de Acolman, near the pyramids of Teotihuacán, received permission from Rome to hold special evening masses on the nine days before Christmas.
The timing wasn’t chosen at random. In the Aztec calendar, December was the month of Panquetzaliztli, which honored Huitzilopochtli, a sun god whose birth was celebrated around the winter solstice. Missionaries used the overlap to teach the Nativity story through a celebration that felt familiar.
Over time, the masses moved out of churches and into neighborhoods, streets and patios. By the 19th century, posadas had taken the form most Mexican families still recognize today.
Las Posadas Symbols and What They Mean
Almost every part of a posada carries meaning. These are the Las Posadas symbols you’ll see most often:
The piñata is the highlight for most children, and its ritual has its own symbolism. The stick represents virtue, the strength to overcome temptation. The blindfold represents faith, which is blind. The candy and fruit that spill out represent the rewards of overcoming sin. While someone swings, everyone sings the piñata song until it breaks and the children rush in to collect the treats.
Las Posadas Food and Drink
No posada is complete without something warm to drink and plenty to eat. Here’s the Las Posadas food you’re most likely to find:
On the Yucatán Peninsula, regional dishes often join the table. Our guide to traditional Yucatán food covers more of what you’ll find in the region.
Las Posadas decorations turn streets and patios festive for the season. Look for strings of lights, paper lanterns, Nativity scenes and poinsettias. Poinsettias are native to Mexico, where they’re called flor de Nochebuena, or Christmas Eve flower.
You’ll also see colorful papel picado, the same cut-paper banners that decorate Day of the Dead altars in November, now in Christmas colors. Our post on the history of papel picado explains how the craft is made.
Las Posadas traditions remain deeply religious for many families, but the word posada has also grown to mean almost any December get-together. Offices, schools and groups of friends throw their own posadas, often skipping the procession but keeping the piñata, the ponche and the music.
Experiencing Las Posadas on a Trip to Mexico
If you visit Mexico between December 16 and 24, you’ll likely see posada celebrations around you. Many towns and parishes hold public posadas in plazas and churches, and shops and restaurants decorate for the season.
The main choice for most travelers is how much of the holiday to seek out. Staying close to your resort keeps the trip easy and relaxing, especially with young children, and many resorts mark the season with their own decorations and festivities. Heading into town in the evening takes a little more planning, but it gives you the chance to see a procession, hear the songs and try fresh ponche from a street stand. If you join a public posada, follow the group’s lead and keep in mind that it’s a religious celebration for many participants.
December is also one of the most popular times to visit the Mexican Caribbean, with dry, sunny weather and holiday crowds, so book early if you’re traveling between Christmas and New Year’s. If you’re spending time in Playa del Carmen with kids, our list of things to do with kids in Playa del Carmen has more ideas for filling the days. Our guide to what to do in Cancún covers the Hotel Zone and beyond.
What this looks like in practice: A family staying at Sandos Playacar in Playa del Carmen around December 20 spends their days at the beach and the resort’s water park. One evening, they walk into downtown Playa del Carmen, where the plaza is lit up for the holidays and stands sell cups of steaming ponche. If they come across a posada, the kids get to watch, or even join in, as the piñata is broken and everyone sings along. It’s a short outing that turns a beach vacation into a Mexican Christmas.
Final Thoughts on Las Posadas
Las Posadas brings together everything that makes Christmas in Mexico special: faith, music, food and a strong sense of community. Each night celebrates a simple act of welcome, opening the door to someone looking for shelter. Whether you join a procession, sip ponche in a town square or simply notice the lights and piñatas, the tradition adds warmth to a December trip.
If you’d like to spend the holidays in Mexico, plan ahead for the busy season. Explore Sandos resorts in Mexico to find a stay with room for both beach days and Christmas traditions.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Las Posadas celebrated?
Las Posadas runs for nine nights, from December 16 to December 24, ending on Christmas Eve. Most posadas take place in the evening, after dark.
Where is Las Posadas celebrated?
It’s celebrated throughout Mexico and in parts of Central America, including Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras. Many Hispanic communities in the United States also hold posadas. San Antonio, Texas, has held a large procession along the River Walk since 1966.
What are the words to the Las Posadas song?
The song for asking for shelter is sung in two parts. It traditionally opens with the pilgrims singing “En el nombre del cielo, os pido posada,” meaning “In the name of heaven, I ask you for shelter.” The hosts answer from inside, refusing at first, until the final verses welcome the travelers in. Other Christmas carols, called villancicos, are usually sung afterward.
What are some fun facts about Las Posadas?
Traditional piñatas were made around a clay pot, not papier-mâché. The poinsettia, now a Christmas symbol around the world, is native to Mexico. In some towns, the procession includes a real donkey for Mary to ride.
What is the difference between Las Posadas and Nochebuena?
Las Posadas are the nine nights leading up to Christmas. Nochebuena is Christmas Eve itself, when families gather for a large dinner, often followed by midnight mass.
Do you have to be Catholic to join a posada?
No. Many public posadas welcome anyone who wants to watch or join in. Because the tradition has religious roots, a respectful attitude goes a long way.
What should you bring to a posada?
If you’re invited to a private posada, a small contribution like candy for the piñata, a drink or a dish to share is a kind gesture. For a public posada, just bring a candle if you’d like to join the procession.
