Photos and Article byShirin McArthur
Posadas 2014
Posadas 2014
Cassie Carver of Rancho la Mancha puts a saddle blanket on Frances, the donkey.
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Posadas 2014
(Left to right) Dixie Dexter looks on as Daniela, Anna and Alexia Ortiz admire Frances.
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Posadas 2014
Deacon Sarah Guck adorns Daniela Ortiz with tinsel as her sister, Stephanie Ortiz, watches.
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Posadas 2014
The procession begins in the Church of the Good Shepherd parking lot.
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Posadas 2014
The procession turns onto Bullard Street.
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Posadas 2014
In the way of donkeys everywhere, Frances has had enough!
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Posadas 2014
Mary (Stephanie Ortiz) and Joseph (Adrian Melon) ask for room at the Gila Mimbres Community Radio offices.
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Posadas 2014
Mary appears weary from her journey.
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Posadas 2014
The participants read a Posadas story.
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Posadas 2014
Mary and Joseph wait outside United Country Mimbres Realty to see if there is room at the inn.
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Posadas 2014
Half of the crowd sings a Posadas song inside the Pink Store North.
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Posadas 2014
The crowd waits outside the Murray Hotel for word of a room.
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Posadas 2014
The participants say a final prayer inside the Murray Hotel.
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Posadas 2014
Participants help themselves to food at the Murray Hotel.
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On Friday, December 19, the Town of Silver City and the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd celebrated a traditional Posadas (which means "inns,"ݠand re-creates Mary and Joseph's search for a place to stay in Bethlehem on Christmas Eve). The procession began at the Church of the Good Shepherd and wended its way down Bullard Street before ending at the Murray Hotel.
Mary rode a miniature donkey loaned by Rancho la Mancha, and the Posadas included a traditional song in Spanish and stories about modern-day immigrants. Approximately 45 people began the procession, and others joined along the way; so nearly 60 people participated in the closing prayer and refreshments at the Murray Hotel. Menudo and albondigas were provided by El Gallo Pinto, coffee was available from the Murray Hotel, and homemade sweets were brought by members of the Good Shepherd congregation.