Las Animas - Bent County Library District

Follows an Hispanic American family in a small New Mexican community as they prepare for and celebrate the nine-day religious festival which occurs just before Christmas.

The second Christmas after their mother has died, Josefina and her three sisters find that participating in the traditions of Las Posadas helps keep memories of Mamá alive.

When his parents and grandfather are late on Christmas Eve, it's up to Carlos to take over his grandfather's role in the traditional Mexican reenactment of the Nativity called Las Posadas.

A little girl guides the reader through each step of a posada, a Hispanic holiday tradition celebrated on the nine nights before Christmas.

Ceci anxiously awaits her first posada, the special Mexican Christmas party, and the opportunity to select a piñata for it. Este año, por primera vez, Ceci, con sus cinco años, tiene edad suficiente para celebrar su propia posada, una de las fiestas especiales que se hacen en México durante las nueve noches anteriores a la Navidad. Toda la gente del pueblo asistirá y habrá muchas cosas deliciosas para comer. Y lo mejor de todo es que Ceci podrá...

The second Christmas after their mother has died, Josefina and her three sisters find that participating in the traditions of Las Posadas helps keep memories of Mamá alive.