Children in the Lake Chapala region celebrate the holiday season by reenacting the Holy Family’s search for shelter in Bethlehem in the traditional Posada processions held in different neighborhoods every day December 16 through 24.
While customs vary from one town to the next, throngs of youngsters march from door to door, commonly following behind by the selected pair dressed up to impersonate José and María. Sometimes the Virgin Mother rides perched on the back of a live burro led by her spouse. The rest of the kids carry báculos (walking staffs) adorned with shiny tinsel and jingle bells to represent pastores y pastoras (shepherds and shepherdesses).
San Antonio Tlayacapan is an ideal place to observe authentic Posada parades that feature prayers, scripture readings, Mexican carols and live tableaux depicting Biblical passages that are set up in front of various households along the way. The processions head out from different starting points each day around 6:30 p.m. The routes for each date are posted at the entrance of the village church.