Members of the UD community braved the cold weather Wednesday evening and gathered to take part in the first-ever UD Las Posadas holiday celebration.

Las Posadas is a popular Catholic tradition in Mexico that commemorates the Virgin Mary and Joseph's journey to Bethlehem. Marianist Brother Luis Gamboa, who helped to organize the event, wanted students to experience how Christmas is celebrated in other cultures.

'We hope that Las Posadas combined both the ethnic Christmas and Marianist tradition within UD,' Gamboa said.

The celebration began with a re-enactment of the trip to Bethlehem in which participants traveled to three houses in the student neighborhood. Students from El Orgullo Latino, a club for UD students interested in Hispanic culture, played a major role in the event. Club members took on the roles of Mary, Joseph and four angels in the procession. Others followed them with lit candles as they sang songs at each stop during the procession.

According to the biblical account, it was difficult for Mary and Joseph to find 'posada,' which is the Spanish word for lodging. Several homeowners denied their request for shelter before they were finally admitted into a house.

Students who acted as owners of the first two houses in the procession refused to take the group into their homes. The host at the third house recognized Mary and Joseph, and offered them hospitality.

The night ended with a closing ceremony at the McGinnis Center. Students read gospel readings, played music and broke a pi??ata.

Gamboa and Joan McGuinness Wagner, director of Marianist strategies, decided to hold Las Posadas as a way for students to understand and appreciate other traditions.

'This celebration aims to allow students to understand the importance of different cultures within the UD student community,' Gamboa said.

Gamboa also stated that the main goal of the celebration was to bring different students together to commemorate the birth of Jesus. He believes this helps to demonstrate the multiculturalism of the Catholic Church.

In addition, Las Posadas was held to raise awareness of UD's Hispanic community. Gamboa indicated that many Hispanic UD students attended Colegio San Jos??, a Marianist high school in Puerto Rico. Sergio Betancourt, president of El Orgullo Latino, believes UD's Hispanic population is steadily growing.

'The number of Hispanic students at UD increased to nearly 200 this year,' he said.

El Orgullo Latino has about 30 members and the group is open to all students. The club organizes many community service and multicultural activities. Betancourt believes that both Hispanics and other UD students can benefit from Las Posadas and similar festivities.

'The event helps to make our members feel more at home and shows a new side of the holiday celebrations which UD has never seen before,' Betancourt said. 'We want to show that different parts of the world have different holiday traditions, and it is an honor for us to share this with the UD community.'

The success of Las Posadas could lead to even more elaborate celebrations in the future. Gamboa anticipates that local churches may start to hold Las Posadas festivities and he hopes that the event will become a tradition at UD.

'Hopefully Hispanic students who come to UD will continue the tradition and other international students will hold their own activities,' Gamboa said.