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Community Corner

Posadas Brings Latino Christmas Traditions to North Artesia

The nine-day event rooted in Spanish and Latin American customs brings traditional procession and treats for the North Artesia community.

After the sun sets on , a group of two dozen men and women march from the park to the streets of North Artesia, with a couple of volunteers carrying a replica of the Nativity scene.

Along the way, they walk solemnly through the streets pray the rosary in Spanish as neighbors glimpse at the procession.

“Hail Mary, full of grace the Lord is with thee,” the announcer says. “Blessed are thou amongst women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb Jesus!”

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The crowd follows with their response: “Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.”

For the last 16 years, the parents group at A.J. Padelford has organized the posadas, a nine-day celebration rooted in Mexican and Latin American customs, in the days leading up to Christmas. At least 1,500 participate in the procession throughout the period.

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“It is a tradition from many years ago that our ancestors taught us,” said Maria Hurtado, one of the organizers of the posadas. “For nine days, we walk a path similar to the one that St. Joseph, the Virgin Mary and baby Jesus went through.”

Hurtado added for each of the nine days, a person leads the procession in prayer and chorus.

Some of the songs they sing during the procession either have international recognition (“Silent Night”) or reflective of Spanish and Latin American traditions like “Los peces en el rio” or “The Fishes in River,” a song about fishes in the river excited about the birth of Jesus Christ.

As the participants slowly walk through the neighborhood, the crowd enlarges as many more people take part in the event. By the procession’s end, about 150 people walk the path and carol traditional songs.

At the end of the procession, the participants are greeted by the host of a house and are treated with food and refreshments. Usually a resident offers their home to the community and would prepare a different meal.

The only exception to the Artesia posadas home offering is the city of Artesia, which hosted a Christmas event last Friday which included music and a toy giveaway to local children with help from Assemblyman Tony Mendoza’s office and local charitable organizations.

“In every street in the neighborhood, a different host gathers people and makes food,” said Rosalba Castaneda, a resident who is offering her house for one of the posadas days. “Everyone in the community helps out.”

The posadas bring devotion to the birth of Jesus Christ and Christmas traditions from Latin America to a small, diverse city like Artesia.

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