Introduction
This Advent as we journey through the Bible, we are going to focus on the journey that Mary and Joseph took to Bethlehem where Jesus was born. This journey has been celebrated for many centuries in Latin American countries with the traditional festival of ‘Las Posadas’ which is Spanish for ‘the inns’.
The Festival reminds us of the challenges of Mary and Joseph’s journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem where they were unable to find anywhere comfortable to stay so that Mary could have her baby.
In Latin American countries, children dress up as Mary and Joseph or carry statues of them as they process through the neighbourhood. The procession visits three houses singing traditional songs asking for somewhere to stay. Mary and Joseph are refused entry at the first two houses, before being admitted at the third where there is often a celebration feast.
As a diocese we are encouraging churches and schools to adapt the traditions of Posada and create opportunities to celebrate the hope of Advent in the midst of a pandemic.
