Las Posadas & a Migrant Caravan

Have you heard of Las Posadas? It is an Advent festival celebrated in Mexico, which can be translated as "The Inns." It takes place during the nine days prior to Christmas and it's really an outdoor parade. An angel leads a procession through the town with children dressed in glittery robes carrying candles. They may carry images of Joseph and Mary riding a donkey on their way to Bethlehem, or older children portray the holy couple. Musicians see them along their way and they stop at various homes where they are refused lodging, in keeping of the "no room in the inn" story. The householders may provide refreshments while carols are sung and scripture is read.

 Sudbury, Ontario may not seem to be a likely place for a Mexican festival but while I served there in the 1990s our music director pulled off a musical extravaganza with our junior choirs and large Sunday school which was a version of Las Posadas. It was really well done and while it was upbeat there was a social justice flavour, reminding us of those who are left out or rejected in our society. If I remember correctly there was a pinata to top things off. 

Migrants walk in a caravan, some of them holding a banner reading 'Exodus from Poverty', as an attempt to reach the U.S. border, in Huixtla, Mexico December 26, 2023. 

This event came to mind when I heard today about a meeting which will take place today involving American and Mexican officials in yet another attempt to address the crisis of migrants at the US border. Up to 10,000 migrants arrive every day after ardous journeys from Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Guatemala. There are even asylum seekers from Africa and Asia who somehow make their way to those countries then begin a journey which can take months, only to be turned away at the US border. 

According to a Reuters report: 

Migrants and asylum seekers transit through Mexico to the U.S. to escape violence, economic distress and negative impacts of climate change, according the United Nations. The number crossing the perilous  Darien Gap straddling Colombia and Central America has topped half a million this year, double last year's record. 

This is a huge political issue in the United States and the Republican front-runner, Donald Trump (how can this be!) has been ramping up his xenophobic language at rallies.Members of groups which respond to migrants, including Christian organizations, are being prosecuted. 

Today's meeting has been sparked by yet another large caravan moving through Mexico. Making the connection between the plight of these desperate people and the story of Mary and Joseph is meaningful. They too are loved by God and somehow there needs to be room in the inn. 

                                                                          Migrant Corridor