What happens at a posada in Mexico?

One night, step by step

1. ofrecer la casa A family offers its house Each night a different family hosts. There are nine posadas, one every night from the 16th to the 24th.
2. la procesión The neighbours walk with candles They walk down the street singing, recalling Mary and Joseph's journey to Bethlehem.
3. pedir posada The group splits at the door Those outside sing "En nombre del cielo, os pido posada"; those inside answer "Aquí no es mesón". The song keeps the old plural "os", which everyday Mexican speech does not use.
4. abrir la puerta The door opens In the end everyone goes in.
5. ponche y tamales Hot punch and tamales Ponche is a hot fruit punch with cinnamon and sugar cane; tamales are corn dough steamed in a leaf.
6. la piñata Then the piñata A star with seven points, broken blindfolded with a stick while everyone sings "Dale, dale, dale".

• There are nine posadas, one each night from 16 to 24 December, and each night a different family offers its house.
• The song at the door keeps "os", the old plural you, even in Mexico, where everyday speech says "les".

Los de fuera cantan: "En nombre del cielo, os pido posada".

Those outside sing: "In the name of heaven, I ask you for shelter".

Los de dentro contestan: "Aquí no es mesón".

Those inside answer: "This is no inn".