Las Posadas & Navidad
This nine-night celebration in Mexico reenacts Mary and Joseph’s search for shelter.
What is Las Posadas?
This holiday on January 6 honors the visit of the Magi to baby Jesus.
What is Día de Reyes / Three Kings Day?
In many Latin countries, people eat 12 of these at midnight, one for each month of good luck.
What are grapes?
These corn dough–wrapped dishes are staple Christmas foods across Mexico, Central America, and parts of the Caribbean.
What are tamales?
In Mexico, this traditional Christmas song is sung while children take turns hitting the piñata.
What is “Dale, Dale, Dale”?
During Posadas, participants often break this traditional decorated clay or paper figure filled with treats.
What is a piñata?
Children often leave this item out for the Kings’ camels.
What is hay or grass?
Carrying this item around the block at midnight symbolizes travel and new adventures.
What is a suitcase?
In many Latin homes, this sweet fried treat is eaten on Christmas Eve, often drizzled with sugar syrup.
What are buñuelos?
In Puerto Rico, groups of friends often show up at homes late at night to sing holiday songs in this lively tradition similar to Christmas caroling.
What are parrandas?
This hot beverages made with fruit and cinnamon is common at Posadas.
What is ponche?
The person who finds the baby Jesus in the Rosca de Reyes must host this celebration in February.
What is Día de la Candelaria?
In countries like Ecuador, families burn these life-size dummies to symbolize leaving the old year behind.
What are Año Viejo dolls?
This warm Mexican holiday drink, made with chocolate, cinnamon, and masa, is often served with tamales during Christmas gatherings.
What is champurrado?
In many Latin American countries, families celebrate this night with this special late-night gathering filled with music, food, and dancing.
What is a Christmas Eve fiesta / Nochebuena celebration?
This sweet bread, often shaped like a wreath and eaten in early January, includes a hidden baby figurine.
What is Rosca de Reyes?
On Día de Reyes, children traditionally receive gifts in honor of the offerings brought by the Three Kings—gold, frankincense, and this fragrant resin.
What is myrrh?
Wearing this color of underwear is believed to bring love in the coming year.
What is red?
Puerto Rico’s creamy holiday drink made with coconut, condensed milk, and spices is known as this.
What is coquito?
In Colombia, this December holiday involves lighting candles outside homes to honor the Virgin Mary and welcome the Christmas season.
What is Día de las Velitas?
During Las Posadas, participants often carry these candle-lit paper lanterns or star-shaped lights to symbolize the journey to Bethlehem.
What are farolitos?
In Spain, this large outdoor event features floats and candies tossed to children the night before Día de Reyes.
What is the Cabalgata de Reyes?
Colombians sweep their homes toward the outside door at midnight to welcome this ?
What is good fortune / good energy?
In Venezuela and Colombia, this holiday dish includes corn dough wrapped in banana leaves with chicken, pork, olives, and raisins.
What are hallacas?
In Venezuela, families attend early morning Christmas-season church services known as Misas de Aguinaldo, often accompanied by this traditional folk music genre played with cuatro and maracas.
What is gaita?