A Posada in Spring Branch

Mexican religious tradition welcomed in area

A custom in Mexico became a new tradition in Spring Branch last Thursday when the community's three Super Neighborhoods hosted a Posada.

The Posada, which means lodging in Spanish, commemorates the Christmas story of Mary and Joseph as they searched for shelter in Bethlehem before Mary gave birth to Jesus.

Spring Branch Super Neighborhoods -- East, West and Central-- presented the celebration with Marina Tours & Travel and the 7960 Long Point Wal-Mart, which provided the use of its parking lot.

"It's an introduction for Americans to how we (Mexicans) celebrate Christmas," said Victor Alvarez, a council member with Super Neighborhood East. "For Hispanics, it's a way to keep our tradition alive."

Nearly 1,200 people attended, Alvarez said.

"It was wonderful," he said the day after the Posada. "The behavior of the people was incredible."

The event was the result of a meeting among the Super Neighborhood members and Long Point Wal-Mart manager Danny Safady, who also supported the Super Neighborhoods' 2003 Multicultural Festival and Parade.

Safady wanted to develop an event that celebrated the community. Because Spring Branch has a strong Hispanic population, the volunteers developed the idea for a Posada.

The Posadas, which is celebrated Dec. 16-24 with a midnight Mass at a Catholic church, involves members of the church getting together, both young and old, to re-enact the hardship of Joseph and Mary when they arrived in Bethlehem and sought shelter from village residents so that she could give birth to Jesus.

Since they were turned down by the first two houses and welcomed by the third house, the owner of the third house offers their hospitality -- or Posadas -- and the procession goes inside the house for festive spirit with songs, piñatas for the children and refreshments.

Once inside the home people read special scriptures, sing and pray the Rosary while children act out small skits dressed up as Mary, Joseph and angels.

During the Posada parties, hosts provide generous servings of food and drink, along with candy and fruit for the children.

During the Spring Branch Posada, the evening began with Mexican folklore and mariachi music by Raices Latinas, followed by a skit, "Pastorela Groovy," by Somos Todos. Pastorelas or shepherd's plays traditionally have depicted the long trek of those first pastores or shepherds to the holy site of the Nativity.

When it was time for the procession, participants walked around the parking lot carrying nativity scene pieces and glow sticks. A number of adults, including Alvarez, dressed in Bible-era costumes.

At the end, the group divided in two.

As they would at a house, one half of the people sang and asked the other for shelter.

Many of the parents at the event put their small children in shopping carts, where they could watch the celebration unfold covered in blankets.

The Super Neighborhood volunteers also used the evening to announce the winners of the essay contest held in conjunction with the Multicultural Festival and Parade.

The contest challenged Spring Branch seventh-graders to write about their community's founders.

The Long Point Wal-Mart agreed to give $1,000 to the first-place winner's school.

Memorial City Mall also donated gift certificates of $500 for the first-place winner, $300 for the second-place winner and $200 for the third-place winner.

The winners were Lauren Pryzant, Spring Branch Middle School; Jordan Phillips, Memorial Middle School; and Laura Bergersen, Spring Forest Middle School.

Danny Sourapheth of Westchester Academy for International Studies won fourth place.

"When we asked the first-place winner what she would do with all of that money, she said she wanted to buy things for her mom and dad," Alvarez said.

With the festival behind them, the Super Neighborhoods will continue their work for Spring Branch, Alvarez said.