| Keyword |
Description |
| Festival |
A day or period of celebration, typically a religious commemoration |
| Treats |
Gifts of food, drink, or entertainment given to someone; in the text, these are the "aguinaldos" (sweets/fruit) |
| Shepherds |
People who tend and rear sheep; characters in the plays (pastorelas) used to teach the Christmas story |
Long ago, priests from Spain traveled to Mexico. They wanted to teach the people there about Christmas. But the people in Mexico already had a big party in December. They celebrated their own Sun God with a huge festival. The priests saw that the people loved this winter party, so they had an idea. Instead of stopping the party, they changed it. They turned the celebration for the Sun God into a birthday party for baby Jesus. To help the people learn the new stories, the priests made learning fun. They gave out treats like dried fruit and candy at church in the morning. They also put on plays. These plays were called pastorelas, and they told the story of shepherds going to see baby Jesus. They also started parades called posadas, where people acted out Mary and Joseph looking for a place to sleep.
The people loved the music, the acting, and the sweets. Soon, these lessons became happy traditions. Today, families in Mexico still celebrate with posadas and plays. Even though they started as a way to teach religion, they are now a time for families to be together. Just like people did a long time ago, everyone gathers to light up the dark winter nights with joy.
Bridging words
These words sound similar in English and Spanish: Why not practice them now?
| English |
Spanish |
| Sun God |
Dios del sol |
| Church |
Iglesia |
| Music |
Música |
Time to discuss
- Why do you think people like getting treats at celebrations?
- Do you learn better by reading a textbook or by acting out a play? Why?
- What is your favorite holiday tradition and where did it come from?
Let's write
Answer the following questions in one paragraph:
- Write a short story about a shepherd in a Christmas play who loses his sheep.
- Make a list of three things you would put inside a piñata for a Posada and explain why you chose them.
