In Mexico, the Christmas season lasts from December 16 through January 6 (Epiphany). On the first day the Posada is enacted, in memory of Joseph and Mary's search for a room at the inns of Bethlehem. They form a procession with two children carrying figures of Joseph and Mary from a creche. It is not usually a church celebration, but rather, a family or neighborhood one. If it is done at home, they may go from room to room. At each door Joseph and Mary knock and ask for entrance, but are refused. At least they reach a room (house) where they are welcomed. A small altar is set up on a table, in the form of a nativity set, the figurines placed in the nativity (although Jesus is not placed in the nativity until Christmas Eve). A celebration follows with the breaking of a pinata. This festival requires at least three people, preferable more: Joseph, Mary and the "innkeepers." (You can, of course use as many innkeepers as you have rooms or children.) At the end, while the figures are placed in the nativity, the Christmas story from Matthew or Luke may be read (in ours, assuming that those present are not familiar with Posadas, we have placed the reading earlier), with a party afterward.

Directions for making a pinata:

Materials: white glue, newspaper, round balloon, decorate materials (crepe paper, tempra paints, etc), string, a shallow dish.

Put down dewspaper, plastic, etc. to confine the mess you are about to make! Rip pieces of newspaper into fairly small strips (no more than a couple of inches wide and five or six inches long). Put some white glue in a shallow dish, with enough water to make it soupy. Blow up the balloon and tie it off. Pull strips through the glue mixture, then apply them to the balloon, covering the entire surface with several layers. At this point you may want to attach the string to the pinata by tying it around the mache-covered balloon. Leave plenty of extra string. Then apply eight or ten more layers of paper mache (depending on how delicate you want the structure to be. Let it dry for a few days, then decorate it in any fashion you desire, by painting, covering with crepe paper (fringed paper is traditional), dangling ribbons from it, etc. Finally, cut a hole in the top, puncturing the balloon, fill it with small candies and toys, and reseal. The pinata should be hung in a room where there is plenty of room. It is hoisted above the children's heads. Children take turns trying to break it with a stick (a thin bat is good, or a broom stick). Each child is blindfolded, turned around several times, and given several chances to try to hit the pinata. For older children, set the pinata swinging. Make sure everyone else stands far back!

1 orange

3/4 cup butter or margarine

2 eggs

1/2 t salt

1/2 cup shelled pistachio nuts, finely chopped

candied red and green cherries

2 1/2 cups flour

2/3 cup sugar

1 t baking powder

1 egg white

2 cups flour

1/2 t baking powder

1.4 cup milk

4 cups oil for frying

1 T sugar

2 eggs

2 T melted butter

2 cups shortening

1 cup sugar

1 T whole anise seed

4 cups sifted flour

1 cup any kind of fruit juice

1 T cinnamon

2 egg yolks

Mix all ingredients and refrigerate overnight. On floured surface, roll 3/8 inch thick. Cut into circles with 1" cutter. Place on greased cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for fifteen minutes, or until light brown. In a brown bag combine 1 cup sugar and 1 t cinnamon. Drop cookies into bag while still hot and shake to coat.

1 cup butter or margarine

1 t vanilla

1/4 t salt

1/2 cup confectioners sugar

2 1/4 cup flour

3.4 cup finely chopped nuts

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Mix thoroughly butter, sugar, and vanilla. Work in flour, salt and nuts until dough holds together. Form dough into 1 inch balls. Place on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake ten to twelve minutes. While warm, roll in confectioners sugar. Cool and roll in sugar again. Makes about 4 dozen.