AmbergrisCaye.com Home Forums Belize by District Cayo Posadas Christmas celebration

A special feature of our Christmas celebration in San Ingacio is the Posadas - a 9 day celebration from around Dec 16 through the 24 in which parishioners go one house to the other begging to be given shelter ... on the 24th, just before the Midnight Mass begins they arrive at the Church, the door of which are closed, and they knock, beg to be let in, the doors open and they are let in ... The celebration is supposed to parallel Mary's and Joseph's trials as they sought a room at the various inns (posadas) in the days prior to Jesus' birth. I have never participated in a Posada, but I believe it is supposed to be an honor that your home is chosen to be one of the homes the parishioners come to --- On each of the first 8 nights the parishioners go to a house, knock and beg to be granted lodging -- this is done in song, and the home owners refuse, also in song.

After the ritual is over, of course,food (usually bollos) and soda and coffee, are offered.

The San Ignacio Rotary Club is carolling on December 18 or 19(not sure of the date), and the Rotary Partners (the significant others of the Rotarians) are organizing a Christmas Concert featuring the Belize Chorale Society ... This is on December 20 at the SI Hotel. (The proceeds to be used to support some 25 or so high school scholarships that the Rotary Club of San Ignacio funds for underprivleged kids --- These are full 4 year scholarships to any of the 3 high schools in the Twin Towns (Rotarians mentor the kids).