1692 , We returned to Tlalpam just before Christmas and found everyone 
Tlalpam preparing to celebrate the night. For nine (?) nights before Christ- 
(Mexioo) 
mas Eve the Mexican families celebrate what is ©ailed "Hacer Posada n . 
A kind of altar is built up on a table at one side of the room and 
covered with moss, fir twigs, etc., forming a bower of greenery. 
Over this are scattered little images of -various domestic animals be¬ 
sides tinsel wire, paper flowers, and other bright decorations, and 
before this candles are kept burning in the evening. Each evening a 
small cradle-like litter with an image of the Virgin and a small por¬ 
celain doll representing an infant are carried about the room by the 
women and children of the family,- the procession led by lighted 
candles, and what are called posada songs are sung. Short halts are 
made in front of doors while the singing is kept up and then the pro¬ 
cession moves on around the room. This is supposed to represent the 
fruitless efforts of Joseph and Mary to find an Inn (Posada). On 
Christmas Eve, the making Posada is wound up by the placing the 
Virgin and child in the bower already described and which represents 
the stable. 
This is followed by merry making, distribution of presents, and 
i 
the breaking of a large gilded and ornamented clay pot of candies 
which has been hung from the ceiling. 
The main Plaza of the City of Mexico the week preceding Christinas 
is a curious sight. The broad streets ore crowded with wood and can- 
* •( L 
vas booths while hundreds of open-air venders encircle these and the 
display of huge, absurd paper dolls made to represent, usually in 
oaricature, various olasses of people* boys or men marching about 
with rows of these hung by their heads along a pole resting at each 
end on the shoulders of a bearer. Others carry one or two dolls at 
the end of a long pole held high in air. 
141 
