Context:
The informant is a 31-year-old Mexican American woman who will be called SA. SA knows of this folklore piece because she participates in it every year with her family. The Main Piece of folklore is told through her own words.
Main Piece:
On Christmas Eve, my family will get together and split into two groups for Posada. Each person in the group has a candle in hand with a protector from falling wax. One group will stand outside the front door of the house, and the other group stands inside the house right behind the front door. The group outside begins to sing the first verse of the song, followed by the group inside that sings the following verse. This pattern continues throughout the entire song, until the end when everyone celebrates that Joseph and Mary have found shelter, and the group outside comes into the house.
Background:
The informant knows of this folklore because she takes part in it every year on Christmas Eve. This was something passed down from elder to elder in the family. It is a part of her religious beliefs as a Catholic. It is a very important part of their culture and their family as it is a tradition that brings the family together.
Notes:
Posada is a Christmas Mexican tradition that revolves around the Catholic religion in which a reenactment is held with family and friends. The reenactment is of the pilgrimage to Bethlehem by Joseph and Mary in search of shelter on Christmas Eve. The reenactment may be different depending on the family and their own traditions. The song that is sung, is often sung in Spanish. The Lyrics are as follows:
En el nombre del cielo, os pido posada, pues no puede andar, mi esposa amada.
Aquí no es meson, sigan adelante, yo no puedo abrir, no sea algún tunante.
No seas inhumano, tenos caridad, que el Dios de los cielos, te lo premiará.
Ya se pueden ir, y no molestar, porque si me enfado, los voy a apalear.
Venimos rendidos, desde Nazaret, yo soy carpintero, de nombre José.
No me importa el nombre, déjenme dormir, pues ya les digo, que no hemos de abrir.
Posada te pide, amado casero, por sólo una noche, la Reina del Cielo.
Pues si es una Reina, quien lo solicita, ¿Cómo es que de noche, anda tan solita?
Mi esposa es María. es Reina del Cielo, y madre va a ser, del Divino Verbo.
¿Eres tu José? ¿Tu esposa es María? Entren, peregrinos, no los conocía.
Dios pague señores, vuestra caridad, y que os colme el cielo, de felicidad.
Dichosa la casa, que abriga este día, a la Virgen Pura, la hermosa María.
Everyone enters:
Entren santos peregrinos, peregrinos, reciban este rincón, no de esta pobre morada, sino de mi corazón.
Esta noche es de alegría, de gusto y de regocijo, porque hospedaremos aquí, a la Madre de Dios Hijo.
English Translation:
Pray give us lodging, dear sir, in the name of heaven. All day since morning to travel we’ve given. Mary, my wife, is expecting a child. She must have shelter tonight. Let us in, let us in!
You cannot stop here, I won’t make my house an inn. I do not trust you, your story is thin. You two might rob me and then run away. Find somewhere else you can stay. Go away, go away!
Please show us pity, your heart cannot be so hard. Look at poor Mary, so worn and so tired. We are most poor, but I’ll pay what I can. God will reward you, good man. Let us in, let us in!
You try my patience. I’m tired and must get some rest. I’ve told you nicely, but still you insist. If you don’t go and stop bothering me, I’ll fix you, I guarantee. Go away, go away!
Sir, I must tell you my wife is the queen of heaven, chosen by God to deliver his Son. Jesus is coming to earth on this eve. (Oh heaven, make him believe!) Let us in, let us in!
Joseph, dear Joseph, oh how could I be so blind? Not to know you and the virgin so fine! Enter, blest pilgrims, my house is your own. Praise be to God on his throne! Please come in, please come in!
Everyone enters:
Enter, enter, holy pilgrims, holy pilgrims. Welcome to my humble home. Though ‘tis little I can offer, all I have please call your own.