Have you heard of Las Posadas? It's a Hispanic Christmas celebration and tradition in many places, including Mexico. A joyful procession, a cooperative donkey, and unique songs typify Las Posadas. But, in this free Christmas Readers Theater script (with curriculum links) there's a mysterious Christmas miracle awaiting the participants...

CAST: 13, unless parts are doubled.
TIME: about 5 minutes
TONE: varies--joyful, serious, with a sprinkling of humor and mystery
READABILITY: Grade 4.0

NOTE: A Critical Pronunciation Guide is included on the front page of the script for the few Spanish words in the script.

Here's a brief excerpt from the first page of this free Christmas Readers Theater script:

Las Posadas: El Burro and the Miracle

By Carol Montgomery ©2010

Narrator 1: Imagine yourself on a dark night in Mexico. A knock comes to your door, but you are prepared. It’s Las Posadas!

Narrator 2: The Hispanic Christmas tradition of Las Posadas often includes statues of Mary and Joseph on a platform. The processional reenacts the hunt for a place for Mary and Joseph to stay.

Narrator 1: Sometimes, especially the last night, a girl and a boy dress up as Mary and Joseph. Others will be angels.

Narrator 2: It’s happened for years.

Narrator 1: But, this night it was different…

Manuel: I love Las Posadas! It’s so much fun going from house to house and asking for a resting place for Mary and Joseph, I mean Maria and Jose.

Carolina: It’s only fun until they say, “There’s no room here--no hay posada.”

Manuel: I know. Eight nights of “There’s no room.” You’d think someone would have pity on a poor pregnant statue.

Carolina: Manuel! It’s not the statue. It’s who the statue represents!

Manuel: I know. I just think it must be easier to say “No” to a pregnant statue than to a real pregnant lady. Can you imagine someone turning away a woman who was “great with child”?

Carolina: Not really. But, what could they do? It was the census and all the rooms were filled. Would you kick people out of a room AFTER they had paid you? (continued...)

Click on the arrow below to DOWNLOAD the full printable version of the free Christmas Readers Theater script "Las Posadas: El Burro and the Miracle."