Festivities began on Friday with the recognition of the first day of Hanukkah. Susannah Goodman provided a menorah and lit the first candle of the week. On Thursday, she will lead the village in a more in-depth celebration.
About 20 of our friends from Yakima who were here for Abriendo Caminas returned to the village to lead us in the enactment of Las Posadas.
Led by Mary and Joseph and a band of angels, members of the community processed through the village in search of "a room at the inn."
At each of the sites designated as a possible resting place for the night, Joseph rapped on the door and was met by a band of gruff and grumpy "innkeepers" who would inform one and all that there was no space there for them to stay. Mary patiently waited behind Joseph, only to be repeatedly turned away.
A small angel accompanying the couple receives the news as well.
Members of the community gathered at the doorway to yet another "inn" have their parts to sing as well.
At the end of the posada, Mary and Joseph are finally allowed to stay. There was much celebration, and the celebration was followed by a fiesta! Hand-made tamales, music, and pinatas!
The very next morning at breakfast, it was time to celebrate St. Lucia's Day. All of the children in the village, residents and guests alike, participated. The girls were dressed in long white robes and wore on their heads a wreath of evergreens decorated with candles...lit candles! It was an amazing sight.
The children were very intent on serving the tables without mishap and seemed to transition smoothly from a Mexican tradition on Saturday night to a Swedish tradition on Sunday morning. 
Karolina Vass, serves her mother Sylvia. The children served the platters of food and the coffee to each of the tables. The celebration calls for saffron bread which the cooks had somehow found the time to make after the fiesta meal of the night before.
The boys, also dressed in white robes, wore tall pointed hats and carried their lit candle to the tables to light the candles in the centerpiece there. They were the Star Boys.
The children were very intent on serving the tables without mishap and seemed to transition smoothly from a Mexican tradition on Saturday night to a Swedish tradition on Sunday morning.
Having finished serving the adults, the children pose for a group picture before sitting down to enjoy their own breakfast.
3 comments:
wonderful! I had a Lucia party Sunday night ...
Tomorrow will break bread in the morning again!!!!
Last year 65 loaves ... this year .... lots fewer
Wanda-
Wonderful pictures and descriptions! Thanks for making me smile today! Such a lot of celebrating! Fun!
Take care!
Karen
Holden does celebration well! Thanks for sharing the stories and pictures.
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