Las Posadas are not only songs, piñatas and traditional food. Deep down, they are full of symbols that are repeated year after year and that we often practice without stopping to think about their meaning. Among the most important are candles, lights and prayers, elements that give spiritual and community meaning to this tradition that is lived from December 16 to 24.
For Hispanic families celebrating Las Posadas in the United States, understanding these symbols is also a way to transmit identity, values and cultural memory to new generations.
Candles: light on the way and hope
The candles that are lit during the Posadas represent, mainly, the guiding light.
They symbolize the path that Joseph and Mary traveled in search of an inn and, at the same time, hope in the midst of darkness.
In many communities, people walk with lighted candles while singing, remembering that even in difficult times there is always a guiding light.
For believers, the candle also represents the presence of God and the faith that accompanies those who ask for refuge.
In the current context, especially for migrant families, the candle takes on an additional meaning: the hope for a better future, the protection of the home and the desire for peace.
Lights: joy and welcome
The lights – whether Christmas lights, lanterns or luminaries – symbolize the joy of the birth of Jesus and the welcome that is finally offered to the pilgrim.
Illuminating the house during the Posadas is not only decoration: it is a way of saying “here is a place”, “here the door opens”.
Historically, light has also represented the victory of good over darkness, a central message of Christmas.
In many Posadas, the lights are turned on more brightly at the moment of “dar posada”, marking the passage from rejection to hospitality.
For Latino families in the U.S., decorating with lights during the Posadas is a way to blend traditions, keeping the original meaning while adapting to the country’s Christmas aesthetic.
Prayers: union and reflection
The prayers that accompany the Posadas invite reflection, thanksgiving and spiritual sharing.
It is not just formal prayers, but a time to stop and pray for the family, the community and those who need it most.
In many posadas, the final prayer is the moment when everyone – children, youth and adults – gather in silence before continuing with the celebration.
It is a reminder that the holiday also has an inner meaning, beyond the material.
Even in homes where tradition is lived more culturally than religiously, prayer fulfills a function of union and pause, something increasingly valuable in a fast-paced world.
Candles, lights and prayers in the Posadas are not random decorative elements.
They are symbols that speak of faith, hope, welcome and community, values that remain relevant today, especially for those who live far from their country of origin.
Celebrating the Posadas with an awareness of its meaning allows this tradition to become not only a custom, but an act of identity and cultural memory that continues to illuminate homes, inside and outside of Mexico.
Filed under: Candles, lights and prayers at Las Posadas
