Christmas posadas take a different turn during the pandemic

A holiday celebration rooted in the Latino community and Catholicism begins today. Christmas posadas take place over nine days to represent Mary and Joseph's journey. 

Las Posadas Navideñas, or Christmas Posadas, is a novenario, a celebration over nine days every year from December 16-24. Posadas directly translate to inns, since it's a commemoration of Mary and Joseph's journey to find a safe place for Jesus' birth.

Although the celebrations have changed throughout the years, usually people dress up as the saints or hold their pictures, and walk to the houses — or the house designated as inns— and gather to eat, dance, and break the pinata. 

Lucila Ruvalcaba recently retired from ACAL de México. She works every year with different groups to organize the festivities. But COVID has made it difficult. 

"I imagine that this year people will be getting together and there will be people who host posadas, just on a smaller scale, but having all the elements of celebration: the litany, the praying, the pinata, and if allowed, dancing," says Ruvalcaba.

The pandemic has also meant many celebrations will likely be an outside affair. Triad posada festivities include one in Gibsonville Public Library.