Las Posadas: what they mean, how to host one, and where to join a procession in the US

When are Las Posadas?

Every year from December 16 to December 24, one posada each evening; the ninth ends with Christmas Eve, Nochebuena. In 2026 the first posada is on Wednesday, December 16. Families usually take turns hosting, so each night is at a different house; community processions in the US are often held on one weekend evening instead.

How the procession and the song work

Two people — or children — play Mary and Joseph, sometimes with Mary on a real donkey; an angel or a star leads the way, and everyone else follows with candles. At each chosen house the group outside sings as the pilgrims, asking for shelter, and the people inside answer as innkeepers, turning them away verse by verse.

The song for this, the canto para pedir posada, is a traditional call-and-response. At the last door the innkeepers recognise the travellers, the door opens, everyone comes in singing, and there is a short prayer before the party. Printed song sheets are handed out at most public posadas, so nobody needs to know the words by heart.

How to host a posada at home

Choose the pilgrims and give everyone a candle — tea lights in paper cups are safest for children. Walk around the block or just from room to room, singing at two or three 'inns' before yours. Once inside, serve the food, then take the children outside for the piñata.

The Christmas piñata is a star with seven points, traditionally said to stand for the seven deadly sins; breaking it blindfolded is faith beating temptation, and the sweets that pour out are the reward. End with aguinaldos: small bags of candy, cookies, peanuts and fruit for every child.

The food is simple and made for a crowd: tamales, buñuelos drizzled with piloncillo syrup, champurrado or hot chocolate, and a big pot of ponche.

Ponche navideño: the posada punch

A hot fruit punch that fills the house with cinnamon. For about 20 cups: bring 4 quarts of water to the boil with 2 cinnamon sticks and one cone of piloncillo (8 oz, or 1 cup packed brown sugar). Add 12 tejocotes, 4 guavas cut in quarters, 2 apples and a pear in chunks, 2 sugarcane sticks cut into thin strips, a handful of prunes and raisins, and a strip of orange peel.

Simmer on low for 30 to 40 minutes, until the fruit is soft and the tejocotes split. Ladle into mugs with plenty of fruit and a piece of sugarcane to chew on. Adults often add a splash of rum or brandy to their own cup — ponche con piquete.

Tejocotes — small Mexican hawthorn fruit — are the ingredient people can't find. Look for them fresh, frozen or in jars at Mexican supermarkets in December; if you can't get them, extra apple and a few dried apricots will do.

Luminarias: lighting the way on the last night

In New Mexico the last posada, Christmas Eve, is also the night of luminarias — or farolitos, as they are called in Santa Fe: paper bags weighted with sand, each holding a candle, set out along paths, walls and rooftops to light the way for the Holy Family. Whole neighbourhoods glow, and people walk the streets to see them.