How to Host a Mexican Posada Party in the UK

What Is a Posada?

In Mexico, Christmas does not begin on 25th December - it begins on 16th December, with the start of Las Posadas. These are nine consecutive nights of celebration (16th-24th December) that re-enact the journey of Mary and Joseph (Maria and Jose) seeking shelter (posada) in Bethlehem before the birth of Jesus. Each night, a different family in the neighbourhood hosts the posada, creating a rolling community celebration that builds in intensity and joy throughout the nine nights, culminating on Nochebuena (Christmas Eve).

Posadas are deeply rooted in Catholic tradition but have been enthusiastically adopted by secular Mexicans as well, because the elements - singing, processions, pinatas, warm punch, tamales, sweets - are irresistible regardless of religious belief. In Britain, Mexican families and communities hold posadas every December, and they are a wonderful way to share Mexican culture with British friends, neighbours and colleagues.

This guide covers everything you need to host an authentic posada in Britain, from the ceremonial elements to the food and drink.

The Procession and the Litany

A posada traditionally begins with a procession. Guests gather outside the host's home (or, in Mexico, outside the neighbourhood church). Two guests are designated as "pilgrims" (peregrinos), representing Mary and Joseph. They carry candles and, sometimes, figurines of Mary and Joseph or a small nativity scene.

The group processes to the host's front door, singing the "Letanía" - a call-and-response song in which the pilgrims (outside) ask for shelter and the innkeepers (inside) repeatedly refuse. The lyrics are traditional and specific; you can find them in Spanish online by searching for "letanía de las posadas." The melody is simple and repetitive, easy for groups to learn even if they do not speak Spanish.

At the end of the song, the innkeepers recognise the pilgrims and open the door with joy, singing "Entren, santos peregrinos" (Enter, holy pilgrims). Everyone goes inside, and the party begins.

In Britain, you can adapt this by gathering guests in the garden, driveway or hallway, depending on the weather (December in Britain is not December in Guadalajara, so indoor adaptations are perfectly acceptable). Print copies of the lyrics so everyone can sing along.

The Piñata

No posada is complete without a piñata. The traditional posada piñata is a seven-pointed star, with each point representing one of the seven deadly sins. Breaking the piñata represents the triumph of faith over temptation, and the sweets that fall out represent the rewards of that faith.

In Britain, piñatas are available from party shops, Amazon and Mexican shops. If you cannot find a traditional star piñata, any piñata will do - the point is the communal joy of blindfolded children (and adults) swinging at a suspended target while everyone sings "Dale, dale, dale, no pierdas el tino" (Hit it, hit it, hit it, don't lose your aim).

Fill the piñata with wrapped sweets, small chocolate coins, peanuts (traditional in Mexico), tangerines (also traditional) and small toys. Hang it from a tree branch, a beam, a washing line - anything sturdy enough to support the piñata and the enthusiastic whacking it will receive.

Aguinaldos

Aguinaldos are small bags of sweets and treats given to each guest at the end of the posada - the Mexican equivalent of party bags. They typically contain tejocotes (Mexican hawthorn fruit - substitute with satsumas in Britain), sugar cane pieces (substitute with candy canes), peanuts, guavas (substitute with another seasonal fruit), colaciones (small sugar-coated sweets) and wrapped chocolates.

Prepare the aguinaldos in advance using brown paper bags or small cellophane bags tied with ribbon. Every guest should go home with one.

The Food: Posada Menu

Tamales

Tamales are the essential posada food. In Mexico, the host (or, more accurately, the host's extended family) prepares dozens or even hundreds of tamales for a posada. The most common varieties are:

• Tamales verdes: Filled with chicken or pork in salsa verde (tomatillo sauce)
• Tamales rojos: Filled with pork in red guajillo-ancho chile sauce
• Tamales de rajas con queso: Filled with roasted poblano strips and cheese (vegetarian)
• Tamales de dulce: Sweet tamales made with pink-tinted masa, raisins and sometimes pineapple or strawberry

Making tamales is a communal activity - a tamalada - and is ideally done the day before the posada with family and friends helping. If you lack the time or equipment, some Mexican shops in the UK sell fresh or frozen tamales, particularly during December.

Buñuelos

Buñuelos are thin, crispy, fried dough discs dusted with cinnamon sugar or drizzled with piloncillo syrup. They are a traditional Christmas sweet in Mexico and are closely associated with posadas. In some regions, buñuelos are served on clay plates that are smashed on the ground after eating - a joyful, cathartic tradition that may not be practical if you value your crockery.

Recipe: Mix 300g all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon baking powder, half a teaspoon of salt, 1 beaten egg, 50g melted butter and 120ml warm milk into a soft dough. Knead for 5 minutes. Rest for 30 minutes. Divide into 12 balls, roll each very thin (2mm) and fry in hot oil (180°C) for 1-2 minutes per side until golden and bubbly. Drain on kitchen paper and immediately dust with cinnamon sugar.

Ponche Navideño

Ponche is the warm fruit punch served at every posada. It is Mexico's answer to mulled wine, but made with fruit, spices and sugar cane rather than grape wine. The traditional ingredients are:

• Tejocotes (Mexican hawthorn - use 2-3 cans of canned tejocotes, available at Mexican shops, or substitute with small apples)
• Guavas (halved)
• Sugar cane (peeled and cut into sticks)
• Piloncillo (unrefined cane sugar - substitute with dark muscovado sugar)
• Cinnamon sticks
• Tamarind pods (peeled)
• Prunes
• Jamaica (dried hibiscus flowers)

Method: Bring 3 litres of water to the boil with 2-3 cinnamon sticks, 200g piloncillo or dark muscovado sugar, and a handful of dried hibiscus flowers. Add the tejocotes (or apples) and prunes. Simmer for 20 minutes. Add the guavas, tamarind and sugar cane. Simmer for another 15 minutes. Taste and adjust sweetness. Serve warm in mugs, with a few pieces of fruit in each mug and a stick of sugar cane as a stirrer.

For adults, a generous splash of brandy, rum or tequila in each mug is traditional and highly recommended, particularly on cold British December evenings.

Atole and Champurrado

Alongside ponche, atole (a warm, thick corn-based drink) and champurrado (the chocolate version) are traditional posada drinks. See our recipe section for detailed instructions.

Decorations

Posada decorations are colourful and festive:

• Papel picado: Perforated tissue paper banners in bright colours, strung across ceilings and walls
• Farolitos: Paper bag luminaries with candles inside, lining the path to the front door
• Poinsettias: Called "Nochebuena" (Christmas Eve) in Mexico, these red plants are native to Mexico and are the quintessential Mexican Christmas decoration
• Nativity scene (nacimiento): A miniature nativity scene, often elaborate, is a centrepiece of Mexican Christmas decoration
• Star piñata: The seven-pointed star piñata serves as both decoration and entertainment

Music

Beyond the traditional posada litany, Mexican Christmas music sets the mood beautifully. Create a playlist including:

• "Noche de Paz" (Silent Night in Spanish)
• "Los Peces en el Río" (a traditional Spanish-language Christmas carol)
• "Feliz Navidad" by Jose Feliciano
• "Mi Burrito Sabanero"
• "Campana Sobre Campana"
• Ranchera and mariachi Christmas albums

As the evening progresses and the ponche flows, the music typically shifts from villancicos (Christmas carols) to cumbia and salsa, and the posada becomes a full-blown fiesta.

Planning Your UK Posada

Here is a practical timeline for hosting a posada in Britain:

• 2 weeks before: Buy piñata, decorations and non-perishable ingredients. Order tamale supplies from Mexican shops. Invite guests and explain what a posada is (many British friends will be curious and delighted).
• 1 day before: Make tamales (tamalada with friends), prepare ponche base, make buñuelo dough.
• Morning of: Decorate the house. Set up the piñata. Prepare aguinaldos. Print posada song lyrics for guests.
• Evening: Begin with the procession and litany at the front door. Move inside for the party. Break the piñata. Serve ponche, tamales and buñuelos. Distribute aguinaldos at the end.

A posada is not a formal dinner party - it is a community celebration, joyful and chaotic and warm. The food is served buffet-style, the children run around shrieking, the adults drink ponche and gossip, and everyone sings the posada songs whether they know the words or not. It is, quite simply, one of the most wonderful ways to celebrate Christmas.

For ingredients and supplies, visit Mexican shops in the UK. For recipe details, browse our complete recipe collection.