To celebrate Las Posadas, University of Texas Permian Basin is hosting a Christmas show at 7 p.m. Dec. 1 at the Wagner Noël Performing Arts Center.
Vendors and food trucks start at 4 p.m. Admission is free.
Las Posadas is a religious festival celebrated in Mexico and some parts of the United States between Dec. 16 and 24.
“Las Posadas commemorates the journey that Joseph and Mary made from Nazareth to Bethlehem in search of a safe refuge where Mary could give birth to the baby Jesus,” according to Britannica.com.
It will include the Mariachi, Ballet Folklorico, UTPB and OC choirs, the UTPB orchestra and community members.
“The idea is to kind of picture Mary and Joseph finding … (lodging) before Jesus is born. The whole thing is even related to las pinatas,” Assistant Professor and Orchestra Director Jean Gomez said.
The seven points of the pinata symbolize the seven deadly sins.
“In the show, we will have the participation of the orchestra, mariachi, Ballet Folklorico. This year, we even include the Odessa College choir,” Gomez said.
“Most of the music … is more like oral tradition songs,” Gomez said.
A few of the songs are popular tunes.
Gomez arranged the music. He added that these events take him about six months to organize.
He feels that everyone will enjoy the show and sharing the experience.
