Las Posadas: Latin American Christmas tradition makes its debut in American Canyon
Dozens of American Canyon families and young children stopped by the Mikolajcik Center in American Canyon on Saturday for a posada, a traditional reenactment of Mary and Joseph looking for a room before settling down at a manger.
The short play before 250-plus guests was the first posada organized by Alma Association — Association of Latinos Motivating American Canyon. The group was formed earlier this year to highlight American Canyon’s Hispanic community with a special focus on education, community and culture. Alma put on Saturday’s event with the Kiwanis Club of American Canyon.
The evening began with the re-enactment of Mary and Joseph knocking on doors trying to find lodging before Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem. It ended with the visit by the three wise men.
The families sipped on ponche, a traditional punch-like drink with cinnamon and fruits, and Mexican chocolate drink known as champurrado as the evening went on. About 400 tamales were served with beans and rice, followed by dulces.
Dozens of raffle prizes were handed out during the evening, including bikes (with helmets), basketballs and a 55-inch TV. Raffle tickets were $5 each. The raffle raised money for Alma’s educational scholarship program benefitting Latino students.
All children also received a bag of candy.
Activities included free face painting by Kiwanis volunteer Charlotte Chiorelo and her granddaughter, Katie Chiorelo.
American Canyon High School’s chamber choir stopped by to sing “Santa Claus is Coming to Town, “Jingle Bells,” “We Wish You a Merry Christmas,” and other holiday songs. The students, too, did not leave the Mikolajcik Center empty-handed.
Alma’s founders, Karina Servente, community and parents’ liaison at American Canyon High School, Vanessa Lara, owner of Taco Hambre, a taco truck, and Hector Valencia, a shirt and sign business owner, presented the choir with a $100 large-size check.
Jamie Butler, ACHS’ choir director, thanked Servente for her work to bring people together.
“We’re very grateful for her work in our school and the community,” Butler said.
Parents who remember posadas in their childhood said they were glad their children could see a traditional posada. For many, it was an introduction to the Latin American tradition.
Lisol Petsas, who came with 9-year-old Cylas and 12-year-old Andres, remembers as a child people dressing up and knocking on doors in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. There was also a live monkey, she recalled.
Maribel Martinez, who came with husband, Juan Martinez, and son, Emiliano,7, remembers attending posadas in Zamora, Michoacan in Mexico. More people are going to know about the posada tradition, she and others said.
Dignitaries sat at a reserved table, including Napa County Sheriff Oscar Ortiz, Supervisor Belia Ramos and American Canyon Mayor Pierre Washington.
Washington said he particularly enjoyed the posada re-enactment, a reminder of why the Christmas season is celebrated. Saturday’s posada is the first of many, the mayor predicted.
Santa Claus came to greet children. Most were enthusiastic. Two-year-old Kristabelle was not. She hid in her father’s arms as the man from the North Pole walked by families, waving to his fans.
Kristabelle’s mom, who decided to attend the free event out of curiosity, had hoped for a photo of her daughter with Santa. “I’m still hopeful,” Krismae Pomares said.
Pomares was among the guests who did not know what to expect on Saturday and did not know about the posada tradition. She came, in part, because it was a free event. She and her family were also free on Saturday, added Pomares. She particularly enjoyed the short play. “It’s really fun,” she said of the event.
Like Pomares, Kiwanis volunteer Dottie Blake, who helped serve water, ponche and champurrado, did not know what the posada tradition was. She, too, enjoyed the event, including the re-enactment and the choir.
Saturday’s posada, which also received support from more than a dozen American Canyon businesses, is one of Alma’s first public events. This summer, the group organized American Canyon’s first Hispanic Heritage Day festivities. More activities are being planned for 2026.
