Posada is a Spanish word that means 'inn', and is also the title for a Mexican Advent celebration in which two young people dressed as Mary and Joseph travelled from house to house in their village to proclaim the imminent arrival of Jesus and request that the newborn baby be given a room.

On Christmas Eve they would re-enact a community play and bring figures of Mary and Joseph to be placed in a crib at church.

The idea has been updated so that nativity figures travel round the parish from place to place, staying at a different house every night, and finally taking their place in the church crib at the Crib Service, ready to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ on Christmas day.

Our school and church each have a knitted nativity set with lots of sheep. Mary and Joseph travel around throughout Advent, leaving a sheep at every house they stay in. The families bring the sheep to the Crib service on Christmas Eve and place them in the stable.

Mary and Joseph's journey through the parish reminds us that we need to make room for Jesus in our lives, homes and communities. 

If you would like to have the knitted nativity to stay for a night during Advent, please contact [email protected]

You will need to allow your contact details to be given to those taking part in the rota to ensure the knitted nativity can be passed on easily.