LPHS Hosting Second Annual Las Posadas Event Saturday December 17th – Free Event.
The Litchfield Park Historical Society is proud to host its second annual Las Posadas of Litchfield Park: A Journey Together to the Mission on Saturday, December 17th. LPHS is partnering with Ballet Folklorico Esperanza for this evening candlelight procession. Based on the Christmas tradition from Mexico, Las Posadas reenacts the Biblical story of Mary and Joseph seeking shelter before the birth of Jesus. In this tradition, procession participants go from place to place as pilgrims asking for shelter in song. After being turned away at earlier stops, participants are recognized as the holy pilgrims and welcomed at the final destination by the innkeeper with a special song verse and a fiesta.
Las Posadas of Litchfield Park will emphasize the cultural aspects of the tradition with the themes of hospitality and welcoming others at its center. The event is free, and all members of the community are invited to participate.
Participants will gather at 5:30 pm in the Litchfield Elementary School south parking lot to receive song sheets and briefly practice with song leaders. At 6:00 pm the candlelight procession will begin by heading north along Old Litchfield Road, turning east on Wigwam Boulevard, and ending at the original St Thomas Aquinas Mission church at Neolin Avenue and Wigwam Boulevard.
The event will close with a fiesta at the original St Thomas Aquinas Mission Church which will include dance performances, food vendors, music, and activities on the lawn surrounding this mission style building with a 100-year-old history. We invite you to be a part of this special evening which celebrates the holiday season and Litchfield Park’s cultural roots!
Date: Saturday, December 17
- 5:30 pm: Procession participants gather at South parking lot of Litchfield Elementary School on Sagebrush St & Old Litchfield Rd.
- 6:00 pm: Procession begins.
- 6:30 pm: Procession ends with FIESTA at the Original St. Thomas Aquinas Mission Church on Neolin Ave & Wigwam Blvd
- 6:30- 8:00 pm: FIESTA with LIVE ENTERTAINMENT – FOOD TRUCKS – CRAFT VENDORS – CHILDREN’S ACTIVITIES
The Las Posadas Event Is Free And Open To The Public
Do not miss this event – full of singing, dancing, activities and a traditional procession among the luminarias to the historic St Thomas Aquinas Mission.
Las Posadas Sponsors
Las Posadas lyrics
Carol to sing as we gather:
O Come all Ye Faithful
O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant!
O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem;
Come and behold him
Born the King of Angels:
O come, let us adore Him, (3×) Christ the Lord.
Sing, choirs of angels, sing in exultation,
Sing, all ye citizens of Heaven above!
Glory to God, glory in the highest:
O come, let us adore Him, (3×)
Christ the Lord.
Yea, Lord, we greet thee, born this happy morning;
Jesus, to thee be glory given!
Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing!
O come, let us adore Him, (3×)
Christ the Lord.
Carol to sing as we begin the procession:
O Come Emmanuel
O come, O come, Emmanuel,
And ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here,
Until the Son of God appear.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.
O come, Thou Dayspring, come and cheer
Our spirits by Thine advent here
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night
And death’s dark shadows put to flight
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.
Stop #1
Peregrinos:
En el nombre del cielo
os pido posada
pues no puede andar
mi esposa amada.
Pilgrims:
In the name of heaven,
Can you give us lodging
My dear wife’s exhausted
After hours of walking.
Posaderos:
Aquí no es mesón,
sigan adelante
Yo no debo abrir,
no sea algún tunante.
Innkeepers:
This is not an inn.
I don’t take in strangers.
You might be a robber.
I can’t risk that danger.
Peregrinos:
No seas inhumano,
tennos caridad,
que el Dios de los cielos
te lo premiará.
Pilgrims:
Do not be so heartless!
Help us, we implore you.
God, who sees from heaven,
Surely will reward you.
Posaderos:
Ya se pueden ir
y no molestar
porque si me enfado
os voy a apalear.
Innkeepers:
I cannot assist you.
Find someone who can.
Leave now or I warn you,
You will wish you had.
Carol to sing as we continue to Stop 2:
Angels We Have Heard On High
Angels we have heard on high,
sweetly singing o’er the plains,
and the mountains in reply
echoing their joyous strains.
Refrain:
Gloria in excelsis Deo,
gloria in excelsis Deo.
Shepherds, why this jubilee?
Why your joyous strains prolong?
What the gladsome tidings be
which inspire your heav’nly song?
Refrain:
Gloria in excelsis Deo,
gloria in excelsis Deo.
Come to Bethlehem and see
him whose birth the angels sing;
come, adore on bended knee
Christ the Lord, the newborn King
Refrain:
Gloria in excelsis Deo,
gloria in excelsis Deo.
Stop #2
Peregrinos:
En el nombre del cielo
os pido posada
pues no puede andar
mi esposa amada.
Pilgrims:
In the name of heaven,
Can you give us lodging
My dear wife’s exhausted
After hours of walking.
Peregrinos:
Venimos rendidos
desde Nazaret,
yo soy carpintero
de nombre José.
Pilgrims:
We have come from Nazareth,
Walking all the way.
I am a poor woodworker.
Joseph is my name.
Posaderos:
No me importa el nombre,
déjenme dormir,
pues que yo les digo
que nos hemos de abrir
Innkeepers:
Knowing what your name is
Does not change my answer.
Go and let me sleep.
Stop this useless banter.
Posaderos:
Posada te pide,
amado casero,
por sólo una noche
la Reina del Cielo.
Innkeepers:
Please, sir, all we ask
Is one night of lodging
For the queen of heaven.
Can you offer nothing?
Posaderos:
Pues si es una reina
quien lo solicita,
¿cómo es que de noche
anda tan solita?
Innkeepers:
I’ve heard many stories;
This beats every one
Since when does a queen
Walk at night alone?
Carol to sing as we continue to Stop 3:
Silent Night
Silent night, holy night!
All is calm, all is bright
round yon virgin mother and child.
Holy Infant, so tender and mild,
sleep in heavenly peace,
sleep in heavenly peace.
Silent night, holy night!
Shepherds quake at the sight.
Glories stream from heaven afar,
heav’nly hosts sing, Alleluia!
Christ, the Savior, is born!
Christ, the Savior, is born!
Silent night, holy night!
Son of God, love’s pure light
radiant beams from thy holy face
with the dawn of redeeming grace,
Jesus, Lord, at thy birth,
Jesus, Lord, at thy birth.
Stop #3
Peregrinos:
En el nombre del cielo
os pido posada
pues no puede andar
mi esposa amada.
Pilgrims:
In the name of heaven,
Can you give us lodging
My dear wife’s exhausted
After hours of walking.
Peregrinos:
Mi esposa es María,
es Reina del Cielo
y madre va a ser
del Divino Verbo.
Pilgrims:
Truly my wife Mary
Is a queen most bless’d
She will be the mother
Of the Word made flesh.
Posaderos:
¿Eres tú José?
¿Tu esposa es María?
Entren, peregrinos,
no los conocía.
Innkeepers:
Is that you, Saint Joseph?
And the Virgin, too?
I would have opened sooner
If I’d recognized you.
We have arrived at the Mission! The Codas are to be sung two times.
Todos: (Coda/Estribillo)
Entren, Santos Peregrinos, Peregrinos
reciban este rincón,
que aunque es pobre la morada, la
morada, os la doy de corazón.
All: (Refrain/Coda)
Enter, enter holy pilgrims, holy pilgrims.
Welcome to my humble home.
Though it’s little I can offer, I can offer, All I have,
Please call your own.
Todos: (Coda/Estribillo)
Cantemos con alegría, alegría,
todos al considerar
que Jesús, José y María, y María,
nos vinieron a honrar.
All: (Refrain/Coda)
Mary, Joseph, and our Savior, and our Savior,
What a joy to have you here!
We are honored to receive you, to receive you,
May you stay through all the year!
Listen to "Las Posadas" in Spanish"
Listen to "Las Posadas" in English"
