Richard Littledale's
Views on the News: December 2007

Our Posada figures for 2007

Room for the night? Ever since the inimical Inspector Clouseau enquired of an hotelier as to whether he had 'rhume for the night', that particular line in the nativity story seems to have an unintentional comic edge to it. In schools and churches up and down the country it will be repeated, without any intentional irony, as the story is told and retold. However, at Teddington Baptist Church we are suppressing the giggles and asking the question of some twenty households, businesses and schools over the next three weeks. We are participating in Posada. Posada is an old Mexican tradition in which a young couple dressed as Mary and Joseph would travel from house to house throughout the period of Advent. At each house they would enquire as to 'whether there was room for the night'. Families would take them in, give them food and lodging, and consider the implications of the first Christmas, when a frightened couple with an awesome responsibility came knocking at the door.

As you can see, our figures are made of wood, rather than flesh and blood, which does at least mean that they need neither feeding nor a bed! However, families and businesses who host them are still confronted with the nagging question of Joseph and Mary's story. If a couple turned up on your doorstep, claiming that they were sent by God and needing lodgings for the night, would you take them in? The chances are that you would at least be sceptical, if not downright afraid. Perhaps when we watch the serried ranks of innkeepers in nativity plays shaking their heads and wagging their fingers we should not judge them too harshly. We might not have said we had room, even if the spare bed was made up and there was plenty of food in the freezer.

Posada is a way of getting the message of Christmas out of the church and into the streets, which is just as it should be. Different people will host the figures in different ways - ranging from the overtly religious to the mildly amused. You can keep up with the figures' journey by clicking here - but what would you do if they came knocking at your door?

Have a Happy Christmas, and may God come knocking just as often as He likes!