Something I love when traveling is experiencing the local culture and traditions. While I had heard about the posada tradition in Mexico, I wasn’t sure how to get an invitation. Luckily, a group of ex-pats had joined together with a local restaurant to host an event and included us in their celebration. It was such a unique experience and one I hope to repeat again in the future.
The entire event lasted several hours, complete with amazing food—tamales!—and traditional punch. Each table took turns acting out the scene of Mary and Joseph looking for shelter. There were songs and fortunately sheets with lyrics for those of us who weren’t familiar with the words. While not part of a traditional posada, ha ha, the Grinch showed up at the end for photos. My favorite part was the seven-pointed pinata, which all the kids got to take turns attempting to crack open before the adults had to step in. I even got to take home one of the points FULL of candy. In the garden was a huge, illuminated nativity scene, full of hundreds of tiny figurines. The rain set in and the lighting was dim, so while the photos aren’t the best, it’s still a night I will always remember.
What is your favorite local holiday tradition?