From December 16 to December 24, families and neighbors across Mexico walk through the streets at night holding candles and singing. They are celebrating Las Posadas, one of the most loved Christmas traditions in Mexico. It is also celebrated in Guatemala, in other Latin American countries and in many Hispanic communities in the United States.

If your students enjoyed learning about alebrijes or Día de los Muertos, Las Posadas is a wonderful next step. Here is how to explain it, with easy Las Posadas crafts for kids and activities for PreK–2.

What Is Las Posadas?

Posada is the Spanish word for an inn, a place to stay. Las Posadas remembers the Christmas story of Mary and Joseph, who traveled to Bethlehem and searched for a place to stay before Jesus was born.

The celebration lasts nine nights, from December 16 to December 24, and each night a different family usually hosts. For young children, you can explain it this way:

  • Las Posadas is a Christmas tradition from Mexico.
  • It happens over nine nights before Christmas.
  • People walk together, sing songs and carry candles.
  • Each night ends with a party with food, music and a piñata.

How Las Posadas Is Celebrated

  • The procession: Children and adults walk together holding candles or small paper lanterns. Sometimes two children dress as Mary and Joseph, and Mary may ride a donkey.
  • Asking for shelter: The group stops at a door and sings a song asking for a place to stay. The people inside sing back that there is no room. This repeats until, at the host’s home, the door opens and everyone is welcomed in with a joyful song.
  • The piñata: The traditional posada piñata is a bright star with seven points. Children take turns trying to break it to get the fruit and candy inside.
  • Food and drinks: Families share tamales, buñuelos (crispy fried dough with sugar) and ponche, a warm fruit punch made with fruit, sugarcane and cinnamon.
  • Songs: Christmas songs called villancicos fill the evening.

Teaching Las Posadas Respectfully

  • Present it as “how many families in Mexico and beyond celebrate,” and let children who celebrate share what they know, if they want to.
  • Invite families to send a photo, a song or a recipe.
  • Use the real Spanish words. Children love learning posada, piñata and ponche.
  • Remember that the heart of Las Posadas is welcome: opening the door to people who need a place to stay.

Easy Las Posadas Crafts for Kids

Paper Lanterns (Farolitos)

Fold a sheet of colored paper in half the long way and cut slits from the fold, stopping before the edge. Unfold it, roll it into a tube, glue it and add a paper handle. Children practice careful cutting, and the lanterns are perfect for a pretend procession around the classroom.

Seven-Point Star Piñata

Glue seven paper cones or triangles around a paper plate to make a star, then add tissue paper streamers to the points. Count the points together, talk about the shapes and hang the stars across the room as decorations.

Papel Picado Banners

Colorful cut-paper banners called papel picado hang across streets and patios at many Mexican celebrations, including Las Posadas. If your class made our papel picado name banner craft for Día de los Muertos, children already know the folding and cutting technique, so try a new banner in red, green and gold.

Counting the Nine Nights (Math)

Make a number line from 1 to 9 with a paper candle on each number. Add one flame each day in the week before winter break, or count all nine together while you retell the story. Older children can sequence picture cards: walking, knocking, singing, welcome and party.

Las Posadas Words to Learn

  • posada: an inn, a place to stay
  • vela: candle
  • farol: lantern
  • estrella: star
  • piñata: a decorated container filled with treats
  • ponche: warm fruit punch
  • villancico: a Christmas song

Turn the words into a puzzle with our free word search maker, or play vocabulary bingo with the bingo card maker.

A Celebration of Welcome

Las Posadas is a beautiful way to talk about welcoming others. Ask your class: “How can we make someone feel welcome in our room?” Keep celebrating Hispanic cultures all year with our collaborative bulletin board activities and the alebrije folk art craft.