Tour Overview

Las POSADITAS are religious processions with spanish roots, but in America, Guatemala was the first country to adopt them. Introduced in the 16th century (1723) by Hermano Pedro de Betancourt, a friar from Antigua Guatemala, the tradition began with him walking the streets on December 24th, carrying images of the Virgin Mary, St. Joseph, and the Baby Jesus. Hermano Pedro replaced the Baby Jesus with just Mary and Joseph, symbolizing their journey to Bethlehem.

Join us in one of our most reliable traditions, Hermano Pedro had the vision of how this season should be celebrated and embraced by families in their homes and not only at church. Hermano Pedro took the Nativity in parade, inviting everyone to commemorate Christ’s birth. Knowing that Guatemalans love to gather, share food, music, and colorful elements, he blended the best of our local traditions with this Catholic event. The procession, which visit homes symbolizing the inn where Christ was born, is a time of warmth and togetherness, with families serving food such as tamales, tostadas, or chuchitos, followed by the long wait for tasting Ponche, that has come to the end, the hot punch let everybody know it’s time for singing, eating, and be surrounded by a bigger family that welcomes there.

This celebration bonds the entire family, from the youngest to the oldest. The procession is filled with music, carols, and native instruments, with kids helping to make the colorful lanterns that light up the path. These lanterns, made from wood, glass, or cellophane paper, glow with vibrant colors, lighting the way for all who follow, creating a sense of pilgrimage that brings us all closer together.

We sing, we eat, we play, we walk, come join us in sharing these magical moments together, you’ll love it as much as we do!