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'Tis the Season for ¡Posadas, Poinsettias, y Pachanga!

It's Posada season! Posadas are holiday celebrations in Latin America that take place in December. In Mexico, people gather and reenact Mary and Joseph's pilgrimage by singing traditional songs and knocking on doors in their neighborhood to ask for shelter, but at every house they are turned away. They are finally welcomed at the house where the party is held (just like Mary and Joseph were finally given lodging in the stable where Jesus was born). There, people enjoy food, ponche (punch), and music, and maybe even hit a piñata! The poinsettia is a traditional holiday plant in Central America, and a pachanga is a party. Learn more about these traditions and get into the Posada/holiday spirit with these books, blog posts, and some music! *Note: Las Posadas may have a religious origin, but the tradition has deep cultural roots and is an opportunity to get together, sing, and enjoy good food. Everybody is welcome to participate!* **Also note: not all the books in this list are children's books, though most are. Titles may be available in multiple languages or formats.** *** EN ESPAÑOL: ¡Es el tiempo de las Posadas! Celebra los días festivos y las Posadas con los libros y la música de esta lista. La mayoría de los libros están en inglés pero otros son bilingües. Puede que los libros estén disponibles en varios idiomas o en varios formatos (por ejemplo, como ebooks o audiolibros) en el catálogo de la biblioteca. La mayoría de los libros en esta lista son para niños pero algunos son para adultos.

Library Staff
Pima County Public Library

15 items

  • El origen de las posadas/The origin of Las posadas

    View on pima.gov
    Every December from the 16th to the 24th las posadas are held in cities and towns across Mexico, certain countries in Central America, as well as in various cities across the U.S. Southwest. In Mexico specifically, las posadas are an important…
    Web resource

  • Las Posadas

    Numbers = Números

    Garcia, Emma, 1969-
    From Bibliocommons:"Embark on a festive journey with your little ones as we celebrate Las Posadas, blending the joy of a 400-year-old Latin American tradition with the magic of numbers in two languages. In this bilingual board book, travelers,…
    Board Book, 2024[Los Angeles, Calif.] : Lil' Libros, 2024. — Boardbook Garcia Bilingual

  • Celebrate

    Celebramos Las Posadas : a Bilingual Book in English and Spanish

    Boan, Marisa
    This bilingual book explains the history and traditional elements of las posadas!
    Book, 2021[Place of publication unknown]: Magic Spells for Teachers LLC, 2021. — Picture Book Boan Bilingual

  • Esperanza Caramelo, the Star of Nochebuena

    Valenti, Karla
    This book is so cute! On Christmas Eve (Nochebuena), a bunch of sugar figurines come to life! The author's note at the end of the book explains that "This book was inspired by my abuelita Esperanza, who was an extraordinary baker and gifted story…
    Book, 2023New York : Alfred A. Knopf, [2023] — Picture Book Valenti

  • The Gift of the Poinsettia

    El Regalo De La Flor De Nochebuena

    Mora, Pat
    This is a story of posadas and poinsettias!
    Book, 1995Houston, Tex. : Piñata Books, 1995. — Fiction Mora Bilingual CHILD

  • The Night of Las Posadas

    DePaola, Tomie, 1934-2020
    From Bibliocommons: "At the annual celebration of Las Posadas in old Santa Fe, the husband and wife slated to play Mary and Joseph are delayed by car trouble, but a mysterious couple appear who seem perfect for the part."
    Book, 1999New York : Putnam's, 1999. — Picture Book De Paola

  • A Very Mexican Christmas

    the Greatest Mexican Holiday Stories of All Time

    "This seventh installment in our beloved Very Christmas series is a celebration of the Mexican Yuletide spirit. Replete with mouthwatering Nochebuena meals, mysterious felines, multicolored boxes, marvelous sweet rolls, and many a bedside tale, A…
    Book, 2022New York : New Vessel Press, [2022] — Fiction Very

  • The Legend of the Poinsettia

    DePaola, Tomie, 1934-2020
    From Bibliocommons: "When Lucida is unable to finish her gift for the Baby Jesus in time for the Christmas procession, a miracle enables her to offer the beautiful flower we now call the poinsettia."
    Book, 1994New York : Putnam, 1994, c1997. — Picture Book DePaola

  • Nine Days to Christmas

    Ets, Marie Hall, 1895-1984
    This book is about a girl eagerly awaiting a posada, and her excitement to choose the piñata!
    Book, 1959New York : Viking Press, 1959. — Fiction Ets CHILD

  • 'Twas Nochebuena

    Thong, Roseanne
    From Bibliocommons: "Explores Latin American traditions for celebrating Christmas Eve in a text that combines English and Spanish words and follows the rhythm of Clement Moore's "The Night Before Christmas"
    Book, 2014New York : Viking, Published by Penguin Group, 2014. — Picture Book Thong

  • It's Navidad, El Cucuy!

    Higuera, Donna Barba
    From Bibliocommons: "Ramon's friendly monster, El Cucuy, is hesitant to embrace the holiday cheer, but Ramon shows him the spirit of Christmas."
    Book, 2023New York, NY : Abrams Books for Young Readers, an imprint of ARBAMS, 2023. — Picture Book Higuera

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