Celebrating the Season with Las Posadas

Las Posadas is a nine-day celebration leading up to Christmas symbolizing The Virgin Mary and Joseph’s search for lodging in Bethlehem. Mary rides a donkey while Joseph leads them from door to door as a choir sings traditional songs asking for shelter.  At each stop, the occupants sing a song about how they do not know Mary and Joseph, and that they don’t have any room available. The couple is repeatedly turned away until they reach a receptive inn and are greeted with the lyrics, “Enter holy pilgrims, pilgrims receive this corner, not this poor dwelling, but my heart.”

Rancho La Puerta honors this tradition with help from the Opera Universidad Autónoma de Baja California and Tuna Universitaria de Baja California.  The Posadas proceeds through the gardens, stopping along the way to sing until reaching the Gazebo, where a party of churros, calientito and a piñata awaits everyone.