Posaditas in Antigua Guatemala

Las Posaditas are extremely important in Guatemala, as it was the first country in America Continent to adopt this practice, which strengthens both the home and spiritual relationships. Introduced in the16th century (1723) by Friar Hermano Pedro de Betancourt, he traveled from the Canary Islands in Spain to Antigua Guatemala and founded the Bethlemite Order. He soon realized how much Guatemala Culture is focus on family values and invited everyone to receive in their homes a Procession symbolizing only Virgen Mary and Saint Joseph's journey to Bethlehem, looking for the inn where Christ was to be born. Later in time, this procession evolved into a larger pilgrimage where families, from children to grown ups, had a special rol, blending prehispanic elements such as Chirimilla, colorful lanterns that light up the path or Huehuetl, a guatemalan drum, turning the experience into an authentic celebration and perfect moment to bond community and life leasons for the new generations.