SBTHP Presents Una Noche de Las Posadas

Celebrate Una Noche de Las Posadas, one of Santa Barbara’s oldest and most beautiful Christmas traditions, at El Presidio de Santa Bárbara State Historic Park.

Participate in one of Santa Barbara’s oldest Christmas traditions as the Santa Barbara Trust for Historic Preservation (SBTHP) presents the 27th annual Una Noche de Las Posadas on Friday, December 14 at 7:00 PM. This free, family-friendly event begins at El Presidio de Santa Bárbara State Historic Park and concludes at Casa de la Guerra. Join in this rich cultural tradition and experience firsthand the way in which Santa Barbara’s earliest Spanish and Mexican residents gathered together and celebrated Christmas with music, food, and merriment.

 (Picture caption: Young Una Noche de Las Posadas volunteers lead the singing procession while portraying Mary, Joseph, and an Angel– along with “Burrito,” a 46-year-old donkey from Los Padres Outfitters. Photo by Dr. Paul Mori)

Las Posadas (The Inns) commemorates Mary and Joseph’s journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem and their nine-day search for shelter as it was once celebrated in Early California. Una Noche de Las Posadas, a one-night version of the celebration, begins with traditional Spanish holiday songs performed in the candlelit Presidio Chapel by El Coro del Real Presidio de Santa Bárbara. Guests are invited to join the choir in a procession led by children portraying an angel, Joseph, and Mary, along with their small burro as they stroll and sing their way to State Street and into De la Guerra Plaza. The procession ends at Casa de la Guerra as Joseph and Mary finally find shelter and attendees enjoy more singing, traditional refreshments, and the breaking of a holiday piñata. This cultural holiday tradition was brought to Santa Barbara by its early Spanish and Mexican settlers and is still observed throughout many Latin American communities.

SBTHP thanks The Towbes Foundation and The Outhwaite Foundation for sponsoring the 2018 Una Noche de Las Posadas. We also thank Los Agaves Restaurant for generously providing the food for this event.

Friday, December 14, 2018 at 7:00 PM

Begins at the Presidio Chapel at El Presidio de Santa Bárbara State Historic Park
123 East Canon Perdido Street, Santa Barbara

Concludes at Casa de la Guerra, 15 East De la Guerra Street, Santa Barbara

Free event
For more information: (805) 965-0093 or www.sbthp.org

Las Posadas (The Inns) is the time-honored reenactment of Joseph and Mary’s search for shelter in Bethlehem as it was once celebrated in Early California and is still observed throughout Latin America. Join in this rich cultural tradition and experience firsthand the way in which Santa Barbara’s earliest Spanish and Mexican residents celebrated Christmas with music, food, and merriment.

————————

ABOUT Santa Barbara Trust for Historic Preservation (SBTHP)—For over fifty years the Santa Barbara Trust for Historic Preservation (SBTHP) has worked toprotect, preserve, restore, reconstruct, and interpret historic sites in Santa Barbara County. Founded in 1963 by Dr. Pearl Chase and other concerned community leaders, SBTHP operates El Presidio de Santa Bárbara State Historic Park—Santa Barbara’s 18th century birthplace—under a unique agreement with California State Parks. The State has purchased the building that housed Jimmy’s Oriental Gardens, providing an opportunity to interpret the history of Santa Barbara’s Asian American community in the Presidio Neighborhood. SBTHP owns and operates Casa de la Guerra, the 1820s home of Presidio Comandante José de la Guerra and his family; the restored home is now a museum featuring original furnishings and rotating exhibits. In 2009, SBTHP signed an agreement with State Parks to manage and develop the Santa Inés Mission Mills, located near the town of Solvang, as a future California State Park. In 2011, SBTHP was awarded the Trustees’ Emeritus Award for Excellence in the Stewardship of Historic Sites by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.  With the help of continuing education programs and exhibits, SBTHP strives to encourage community involvement and foster an appreciation for Santa Barbara County’s distinctive history.  Learn more at www.sbthp.org.