Cultural celebrations spice up December

The entire month of December is preparation for and celebration of Christmas for the Green Bay Diocese's Hispanic communities.

Rudy Pineda, consultant for the diocese's Hispanic Pastoral Ministry, said most of the celebrations are Mexican in origin, but other Central and South American groups are represented in Northeastern Wisconsin.

Here's a look at the celebrations:

Our Lady of Guadalupe (Dec. 12) -- This feast commemorates Mary's appearance in 1531 to Juan Diego, an Aztec Indian who had converted to Catholicism. During her first appearance, she told him she was the Mother of God and protector of Indians and all people of the world. She wanted a church built on the spot where she stood. When Juan Diego told Bp. Zumarraga of her wishes, he asked for proof.

On Dec. 12, the young man returned to the bishop with his ayate or white cape-like garment filled with roses that did not grow at that time of the year. Mary's image was imprinted on the material. The Virgin later appeared to the bishop.

Sr. Melanie Maczka, pastoral associate at St. Willebrord Parish in Green Bay, said Hispanic families precede the feast with a novena beginning on Dec. 3. They gather in homes or neighborhoods to say the prayers.

St. Willebrord celebrates Dec. 12 on the Saturday closest to it. This year, the celebrations will be Dec. 9 and Sunday, Dec. 10.

On Saturday, the children will dress in the costumes or wear sashes in the colors of their countries or the Mexican states they are from and walk in procession from the parish center to the church where Bp. Robert Banks will celebrate Mass.

On Dec. 10, the people will meet in church at 4:30 a.m. to sing mananitas, or morning songs to Mary, using songs traditionally sung to wake up someone on their birthday.

A mariachi band from Chicago will begin playing at 5 a.m. and for a bilingual Mass at 7:30 a.m. and a Spanish Mass at 12:30 p.m. The mariachi will entertain until 2:30 p.m.

The 6:30 p.m. Spanish Mass is also a youth Mass. Young people, ages 14 to early 20s, will process to the church, then dramatize Mary's appearance to Juan Diego. On Dec. 12, there will be Spanish Masses at 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.

Sr. Jane Riha of Hispanic Ministry at St. Gabriel Parish in Neenah, said the feast there is always observed on Dec. 11. The celebration will begin at 6 p.m. with mariachi music and dancing by the Fox Valley's folkloric group. A second group will present dances that are performed only for Our Lady of Guadalupe.

The mariachi, also from Chicago, will perform for the 8 p.m. Mass celebrated by Bp. Banks and for the supper served afterwards.

Los Posadas -- These are re-enactments of Mary and Joseph's journey to Bethlehem. They begin on Dec. 16 and continue nightly until Christmas Eve. Because the weather is warm in South and Central America and the Southwestern U.S., they are performed outdoors.

Participants divide into pilgrims and people remaining indoors. They sing back and forth to each other. For eight nights Mary and Joseph are denied entrance. After each posada, the performers go to a home for treats.

Weather and work schedules have kept the posadas from being held all nine nights in Green Bay and Neenah.

This year, the Green Bay group is considering holding the processions on Imperial Lane where several Hispanic families live.

St. Gabriel held posadas four nights last year. Each night the people brought up a symbol for the Nativity scene. One time it was straw for the manger; another, it was a cloth to wrap Jesus in. The night before Christmas Eve, the children received bags filled with apples and other treats.

St. Mary's Parish in Omro has scheduled two posadas, said Fr. Joseph Mattern, pastor. The first will be held for the RCIA at 9:30 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 17. The children in the religious education classes will hold the second on Dec. 20. An all-parish posada is still in the planning.

Christmas Eve -- During the posada that night, children dressed as Mary, Joseph and angels are admitted to the church. The baby most recently born in the Hispanic community plays the part of Jesus.

After Mass, Sr. Maczka said, the children take the image of Jesus from the manger, wrap it in a cloth and sing a lullaby to him. The children at St. Willebrord then get treats. This is not part of the Hispanic tradition.

New Year's Eve -- This is a day of thanksgiving, Sr. Riha said. The people gather in church in the evening and give thanks for the blessings of the previous year.

Dia de Tres Reys (Epiphany) -- Children polish one of the shoes they wear to school and fill it with straw. They leave these and bowls of fresh water in their windows or doorways for the Magi's animals as they pass. The Magi, in turn, give the children gifts.

Sr. Maczka added that the children may also come to church dressed as the Three Kings.

That day some families take down their Nativity scenes. Others take them down at the end of the Christmas season or on Feb. 2, the feast of Christ's presentation in the Temple.

Celebrating Guadalupe Here is the schedule of Our Lady of Guadalupe celebrations at parishes in the Green Bay Diocese as provided by Rudy Pineda, diocesan consultant for Hispanic pastoral ministry: St. Willebrord, Green Bay Saturday, Dec. 9 - 6 p.m. Mass (Bp. Banks celebrant) Sunday, Dec. 10       - 4:30 a.m. Mananitas (Good morning to Our Lady)       - 7:30 a.m. Mariachi Mass (bi-lingual)       - 12:30 p.m. Mariachi Mass (Spanish)       - 6:30 p.m. Mass (Spanish choir) followed by         dramatization of the event by the youth group. Tuesday, Dec. 12       - 10 a.m. Mass (Spanish)       - 6 p.m. Mass (Spanish) St. Philip the Apostle, Green Bay Tuesday, Dec. 12       - 8 a.m. Procession and singing       - 8:45 a.m. Mass (Bi-lingual) St. Gabriel the Archangel, Neenah Monday, Dec. 11       - 6-11 p.m. Celebration includes dramatization         of the event. Mariachi will play.       - 8 p.m. Mass (Bp. Banks celebrant) St. Mary, Omro Sunday, Dec. 10 - 1 p.m. Mass (bi-lingual) followed by potluck and presentation of pictures of Our Lady of Guadalupe to each family.