3701 Carlisle NE
Albuquerque, NM 87110

[Three adults serve as 'doorkeepers', one in NW corner, one in SW, and one at front in the East who also serves as main narrator. They have wood blocks for sound effects. Kids are gathered in groups behind the SW and NW doorkeepers. A clearly empty manger is on the stage.]

EAST: Whatever you may feel about Christmas. that it is too commercial, that it is a sacred season; that it is based more on myth than reality, that it was the pivotal moment of human existence, that it is hype or that it is hope; one thing cannot be denied, and that is that it is the most celebrated and important holiday in Christendom and in the Western culture of which we are a part.

There are many ways to commemorate Christmas. One of them, common in the Spanish traditions that surround us in the Southwest, is Las Posadas. The Inns. In some places this is done for nine nights preceding Christmas, in others nine houses are visited in a single night, or nine rooms in a building. A procession led by figures of Mary and Joseph, the parents-to-be of the infant Jesus, goes from place to place, searching for an inn in which to stay.

[The oldest boy and girl, carrying icons of Joseph and Mary, stand up in front of and facing the NW doorkeeper]

EAST: As they knock on each door...

[each doorkeeper knocks once in turn -- NW, SW, E]

EAST: and ask...

[the icon-bearers say "can we stay here?"]

EAST: they are greeted with the ritual response...

[all other children on both sides say "There is no room"]

EAST: and the doors...

[NW doorkeeper slams block]

EAST: slam...

SW doorkeeper slams block]

EAST: closed.

[E doorkeeper slams block]

[The icon-bearers start from the NW around the front of the room and back to the SW, with a few other small children not in costume following them.]

EAST: As Joseph and Mary leave each place, they are joined by others, some in costume as the shepherds or magi or angels or animals, many just as themselves, and they sing the age-old carols as they go.

[As each carol ends, the procession reaches the opposite corner -- NW to SW and back to NW again, by various routes -- and the ritual is repeated. Each doorkeeper knocks once, the children in the procession ask "Can we stay here," the children not yet in the procession say "There is no room", and the doorkeepers one by one slam their blocks. As the procession turns, a few more kids join it, some with no costume, some as (2nd door) shepherds and sheep, (3rd) magi, (4th) angels, (5th) other animals. The doorkeepers in turn read a couple verses about each group, and then the next carol is sung. The children in the procession might sing each first verse on their own, with the congregation joining in for the balance of each song.]

NW: [reads verse about Joseph and Mary: Luke 2:1,3-5] And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; because he was of the house and linage of David; to be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.

Carol:

SW: [reads verse about shepherds: Luke 2:8-10,15] And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, "Fear not: for behold, I bring you tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people." And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them in heaven, the shepherds said one to another, "Let us go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which the Lord hath made known unto us."

Carol:

NW: [reads verse about magi: Matt.2:1b-2,9b-10] ...behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, saying, "Where is he that is born King of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him." ...and lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.

Carol: "We Three Kings"

SW: [reads verse about angels: Luke 2:10-14] And the angel said unto them, "Fear not: for behold, I bring you tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger." And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men."

Carol:

NW: [reads verse about animals: Isa.11:la,2,6] And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse... And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord;... The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them.

Carol: "Carol of the Animals"

[Procession now goes to stage, icons are placed next to manger on stage, babe is brought out from hiding, and end with tableau during final carol]

EAST: [reads final verse about birth: Luke 2:7] And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes anc laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

Carol:

Other ideas

• Instead of costumes, kids could carry statues or cardboard stand-ups the same scale as the icons of Mary and Joseph.
• For a bit of humor, since the angels 'reported' the event, have them with PRESS cards on their halos and carrying pencils and notepads.
• Blocks could be pairs of hinged boards for better sound and control. Doorkeepers could use rocks or gavels for loud knocks.
• Mount bare lightbulb at top of mural behind the stage, to be lit first time a carol refers to the star in the East. During closing carol dim other lights.
• Tradition calls for pinatas afterwards, but back in RE, not the main room.
• Short scripture reading plus two verses of each hymn should be about right time for stately procession, but time it in advance. This is written with time for six carols, but it can easily be pared to four by combining the angels and shepherds and eliminating the animals, or expanded by singing more verses of the carols while the procession takes a more circuitous route.
• The Las Posadas tradition is apparently spread over much of Latin America, with a wide range of variations, so improvisation is acceptable.

Las Posadas, Traditional Mexican Folk Song

En nombre del cielo Ospido posada,
Pues no puede andar
Mi esposa amada.

Aqui no es meson sigan adelante,
Yo no puedo abrir
No se algun tunante.

Venimos rendidos Desde Nazareth
Yo soy carpintero
De nombre Jose.

No me importa el nombre De jenme dormir
Pues ya se los digo
Que no puedo abrir.

Mi esposa es Mari  Es la reina del cielo
Y madre va a ser
D el diving Verbo.

Eres tu, Jose? Tu esposa es Maria?
Entren peregrinos
No los conocia.