MIDDLETOWN, Calif. — Middletown Art Center, or MAC, is excited to announce Posadas Celebrations during the festivities at Christmas in Middletown on Saturday, Dec. 9, from 6 to 8 p.m.

Everyone is invited and encouraged to participate.

In collaboration with St Joseph Roman Catholic Church parish members in Middletown, a Posadas procession of singers will perform at Middletown Square Park, the festival food court, and at MAC during Christmas in Middletown.

The procession will culminate in the serving of punch and the breaking of a giant piñata at MAC at 7:30 p.m.

A giant piñata will be made at a workshop on Saturday, Dec. 2, from 1 to 4 p.m. and the community is invited to participate in its creation. The workshop is free and pre-registration is requested at https://bitly/MACpinata.

“Bringing Las Posadas to Middletown is a conduit for highlighting the Mexican and Latinx community. It brings a little piece of home for families that originate from Mexico so they can connect back to traditions celebrated in that country. Likewise, the children of first generation immigrants, who perhaps might not be as familiar with these traditions, are given an opportunity to connect to their ancestral roots,” said Gilberto Rangel, HSRA coordinator at Lake County Tribal Health, Konocti School Board member and consultant for MAC.

“We are looking forward to growing this celebration throughout our community and providing more opportunities to showcase cultural traditions from Spanish speaking countries. This approach leads to a stronger community where people begin to connect with each other regardless of what their unique backgrounds, beliefs or traditions might be,” Rangel said.

Las Posadas has been a Mexican tradition for over 400 years, and is also celebrated in Guatemala and Honduras.

The word “posada” means inn or lodging, and traditionally Las Posadas are a celebration of the Christmas story and commemorate the Virgin Mary and St. Joseph’s search for a place to stay where Jesus could be born.

Posadas in Mexico feature hot food and drinks, sweets, music and piñatas.

While the origin of Posadas does have a religious connection to the Catholic practices introduced by Spaniards, today Las Posadas are a mainstream celebration for both practitioners and non-practitioners of the Catholic faith.

Las Posadas at Christmas in Middletown inaugurates the MAC’s Raíces Hermosas ~ Gorgeous Roots project which celebrates contemporary expressions of Latinx culture, roots and issues.

The project is centered around an art exhibit by local and regional Latinx artists on view January to May 2024 at MAC. It includes school field trips to the gallery and studio for guided tours and hands-on activities for 3,600 Lake County students, public artmaking workshops, and cultural celebrations.

Learn more about Raíces Hermosas at www.middletownartcenter.org.

Funding for this project is provided by Specified General Fund for the Museum Grant Program under the California Cultural and Historical Endowment.

Middletown Art Center is a Lake County nonprofit dedicated to engaging the public in art making, art education, and art appreciation. Through exhibitions, performances, workshops, and community events, the Art Center provides a platform for diverse voices and perspectives, striving to create an inclusive and accessible space for all.

To learn more and donate to support Raices Hermosas and other MAC programs visit www.middletownartcenter.org or call 707-809-8118. The MAC is located at 21456 State Highway 175 in Middletown.