20051217 - Even after the posada ceremonies are over, the group
continues to play music and sing together inside the Brandon home of
Carlos Ortiz and Elba Hernandez after the posada on Saturday night.
Posadas are a long-standing tradition in Hispanic Catholic families
around Christmas time, where they hold parties with songs and prayers
every night from Dec. 16 through Christmas to commemorate the search
by Mary and Joseph for a place to stay before Mary gave birth to
Jesus. The Brandon church's Hispanic population has boomed over the
years, but it is very diverse, from Puerto Ricans to Colombians to
Venezuelans. But every country practices the tradition a bit
differently. The church committee has tried to reconcile the different
practices. (Brian Cassella / St. Petersburg Times)
