Saint Anthony at Christmastime

Merry Christmas from San Anto Cultural Arts! Our boss' wife Sylvia made these ornaments of murals and El Placazos.

"A Table for the People." This one is my favorite, especially with the black Jesus.

The holiday season in our neighborhood brought new experiences and opportunities. One of the best was Divine Redeemer's tamalada (tamale-making gathering) and posada, which is a house-to-house reenactment of the journey of Mary and Joseph to find shelter in Bethlehem for the birth of Jesus.

At the tamalada, we assisted the church ladies with making several hundred tamales to be served at the dinner following posada. What one must do is to take a damp cork husk, feel for the softer side, then apply a thin but even layer of masa (cornflour dough) with the back of a spoon. It took a few tries to get an acceptable masa-spread husk to pass on to the ladies filling them with chicken and pork. If the masa is not spread correctly, you'll lose filling while the whole thing cooks in the steamer pot.

Corn husks waiting for masa

Chicken for filling

The tamalada station wrapping up until more masa can be made.

Posada came that night when the church gathered outside to begin the procession from house to house, led by the children dressed as the Nativity figures, the children's choir, the pastor, the guitarists, and the rest of us toting song lyrics and cameras.

Angels, shepherds, and the three kings.

My favorite is the angel with the star on a stick.

Some of the guitar players and Mallory, carrying sheet music for them.

Pastor Rob as a shepherd zooms by to lead the procession from house to house.

I was excited to participate in posada, a tradition I had learned about from various sources but never been to myself. At posada, the whole company goes house to house to sing the posada song, in which we request shelter (posada) but are refused, until we all arrive at the church door and are let in to much fanfare. Below is my rudimentary translation of the song into English:

In the name of heaven, give us shelter, for my dear wife can go no farther.

This isn't an inn, be on your way. I can't open up; you might be a bandit.

Have a heart, show us kindness. God in heaven will reward you.

Just go and stop bothering me, or else I'll get angry and thrash you.

We come exhausted from Nazareth. I'm a carpenter by the name of Joseph.

I don't care what your name is, let me sleep. I already told you I'm not opening up.

I beg of you just one night's shelter, my dear sir, for the Queen of Heaven.

Well, if it's really a queen at the door, what is she doing walking around at night all by herself?

My wife is Mary, the Queen of Heaven, and she will soon be mother to the Divine Word.

You're Joseph? Your wife is Mary? Enter, pilgrims, I didn't recognize you.

God will repay your kindness, sirs, and shower you with happiness.

Blessed the home that opens this day for the Pure Virgin, the beautiful Mary.

Enter holy pilgrims and receive this little corner, not of my dwelling but of my heart. This is a night of happiness, pleasure and rejoicing, for we are lodging here the Mother of the Christ Child.

Following the posada procession, the children sang in the church and we all went outside again to eat dinner and celebrate. All of this occurred on December 12th, which is also the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

Downtown San Antonio was also decked out for the holidays. We spent a little time admiring the Christmas tree in Alamo Plaza and the lights along the River Walk.

It was bustling at the Christmas tree lighting.

Even the Pinecone Palace (or whatever this is) was trimmed for the season.

Lest we look out of place in San Antonio with pine wreaths, our friend Stacey showed us how to make a wreath from cactus. 

One of my favorite moments was watching Abby and Mallory team up with guitar and violin to sing and play on the fourth Sunday of Advent. I hope to attend more of their dual string concerts.

Happy Holidays to you!

Caro