Posada tradition was revived in Old Town in 1953

In 1953, merchants and residents of Old Town San Diego gathered to celebrate the Mexican Christmas tradition of La Posada, for the first time in many years.

Old Town became a state historic park in 1968. In Spanish, posada means lodging or shelter. In the Christian religious tradition, Las Posadas is a festival re-enacting Mary and Joseph’s journey to Bethlehem and their search for a safe place for the birth of Jesus.

The traditional Mexican procession takes place over nine days, from Dec. 16 to Dec. 24.

The in-person holiday Posada in Old Town has not been held since 2019 because of the pandemic, according to event information from Fiesta de Reyes, the park’s commercial dining and shopping area.

From The San Diego Union, Monday, Dec. 14, 1953: last night as youngsters of the community sang carols and recited the chant of the pageant.

More than 50 children, from 3 to 12, sang in the procession commemorating the journey of Mary and Joseph that took them from Nazareth to Bethlehem. According to the custom, the couple asked for shelter many times, but were refused. Finally they were given lodging and here they sang their thanks.

Carrying processional lights, members of last night’s posada pleaded for lodging at the various restaurants and inns near Old Town plaza but each time were refused. The children finally were admitted to the Church of the Immaculate Conception. Here they sang their thanks and were served hot chocolate and cake.

Jack Merger, 12, of 4200 Taylor St., played the part of Joseph, while Brenda Cummings, 12, of 2383 Jefferson St., took that of Mary.

There will be a posada each night until Christmas Eve. At the conclusion of the posada that night, the children will join in a pinata party.