LCC celebrates La Posada on Tuesday
Laredo Community College students and community are invited to welcome the holiday season with a special Christmas celebration on campus and a student presentation of a centuries-old Mexican holiday tradition on Tuesday, December 7.
Everyone is invited to share the joy of this holiday season during the third annual LCC Christmas Celebration and La Posada which starts in front of the Yeary Library courtyard at 6 p.m. Sponsored by the Nuestras Raices Spanish Club at LCC, the program will begin with a short introduction and history of La Posada by Spanish Club sponsors Rene Montemayor and Cynthia Aradillas.
The procession of La Posada will begin afterwards in front of the Yeary Library courtyard. Christmas caroling, a piñata party and traditional fare will be provided after the procession. Admission to this cultural celebration is free of charge.
La Posada is a major Christmas celebration in Mexico which involves a procession reenacting Joseph and Mary’s journey to Bethlehem.
According to Mexican custom, the participants in the procession divide themselves into two groups, pilgrims and innkeepers. The pilgrims travel from inn to inn asking for shelter and are refused at each until they finally reach a place where they are welcomed to stay. There, the pilgrims rejoice and a party begins. Food and drink are served and then children take turns to break open a piñata in the shape of a star.
Spanish Club President Veronica Martinez says that the whole event has a special meaning for the college student organization.
“Nuestras Raices is pleased to be able to present and preserve a tradition that the student members hold dear to their hearts,” said Martinez. “The Spanish club is excited to educate students and the community about this special tradition which is part of our identity and our roots as Latinos.”
In keeping with the tradition, La Posada will take place at the campus buildings which line the college’s main courtyard. A party with traditional fare, including tamales and hot chocolate, and a piñata will be hosted for all to join.
For more information about the holiday celebration, contact club sponsors Aradillas or Montemayor by calling the LCC Foreign Languages Department at 721-5355.
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