Deming graphic. (Deming, N.M.) 1903-1948, 1913-12-05
HOW CHRISTMAS Is CELEBRAT-
Ed ACROSS the RIO
GRANDE
Religious Services and Festivities
Mingled for Nine Days-Break-
Ing the Pinyata Takes Place
OF Christmas Tree for
Children.

lyaA(. S&xxkyNl liile ol the year,
A2ggvzsA but It takes ON
more of the nature
of the ancient customs, in that land
of romance and sunshine, than it
does perhaps in any other country.
At least there is nothing approaching
II III the western part of the world.
The holiday season begins nine days
before Christmas and winds up with
Twelfth Night
All solemn feasts in the Roman
Catholic church are preceded by
"novenas' or special church SER
vices. The Christmas celebration is
semi religious beginning ON the six
,centh of December, Or nine nights
before Christmas, and is repeated ev
cry night until Christmas eve. This
j. called LAS posadas" and com
mcmorates the eight successive, but
unsuccessful days of search for an
nm or place of rest in Bethlehem,
by the Holy Family when they had
gone up to Nazareth to pay their tax
Is in the city where they belonged rs
lncal descendants of David.
Day after day Saint Joseph and
the Holy Mother asked in vain for ad-
mlttancr TO some 'meson' Or place
of retirement, only to be- refused ad-
mission everywhere.
In vain did she plead her great
necessity, the inns were already
crowded and there was no room for
the pilgrims. SO they were repeatedly
turned away.
On The night of the sixteenth of
December bands of from five to one
hundred gather together at some
ones house and start Oh the rounds
OF visiting the houses of their friends.
These bands are supposed to repre-
sent the three wise men seeking the
infant Savior and the Holy Family
seeking shelter. The origin of this
quaint custom has been lost since
| the Spanish conquest. 1t is called
"pldiendo posadas asking shelter
and at every house they are invit
rd IN, offered wine and food and after
some argument they are Offered the
house They finally denart aud 90
on To the next house only 10 repeat
the previous performance.
During the visit one-h half of the
company 20 outside the house and
form III Il solemn procession. the
other half remaining inside and each
carries a lighted candle The leaders
bear Il small lighted shrine Ia which
ar" the images of the "Suntos
prrcgrInos holy pilgrims, Joseph
and Mary. They slowly march back
and forth IN front of the house OF
around the "patio,' chanting the
Illanv to Saint Mary in high minor
key; then they stop at the door and
knocking, ask Tor admittance There
! are about twelve verses for this
which are rhanted first by those out
side asking admlttance, then answer
ed by those on the inside refusing to
open the door, and the DENIAL of the
personality Of the Holy Family.
After the pleading petition and
curt refusal those within are finally
convinced that they who ask for
their hospitality are really the lioI>
Pilgrims, when they open wide the
doors and bid them enter: Enter.
holy pilgrims, honor my poor man
Nion,' etc.
The pilgrims" then enter, the i'm
AGES are iced III small grotto
which has been especially prepared
Tor the purpose, lighted candle or
bright light is held above by some one
100 u manner 10 represent the star of
Brlltichcm; some person present,
either priest or layman, leads in the
Ave Marla~, short prayers are said.
more hymns sung and the religious
features for that night are at an end
and al once the festivities Of the
plght begin which usually last until
nearly morning.
On Christmas eve the same pro.
cram i followed except that an i'm
age of the Holy Child, lying naked in
a small manger filed with straw. is
carried between the Godfather and
godmother, who have been appointed
by the hostess TO this great honor,
and singing the ltany and other
hymns they proceed a. on previous
evenings until at 80 they begin
singing the sony of the "noche-
burna or Christmas night Then fol-
low Ave Marias, glorias, litany to the
"Nino Dios" or God child. when the
image is placed in the grotto prepared
for the reception, where it remains
I'LL the end of the holiday season.
Groups of friends and relatives
combine for these posadas. n differ