Novena of aguinaldos facts for kids
The Novena of aguinaldos is a special nine-day celebration that happens just before Christmas. It's also called the novena to Baby Jesus. This tradition is very popular with Catholic families in Colombia, and also in parts of Ecuador and Venezuela. From December 16 to December 24, families and friends gather. They pray, share food, and sing traditional Christmas songs called villancicos. Sometimes, they even play musical instruments together!
After the prayers, people often enjoy yummy Christmas treats. These include buñuelos (fried dough balls) and natilla (a custard-like dessert). They also eat empandas, drink hot chocolate, and sometimes have sabajón. Sabajón is a Colombian drink similar to eggnog.
A similar celebration happens in Mexico and Central America. It's called Las Posadas and takes place during the same nine days.
A Look Back: How the Novena Started
The special prayers for the Novena of aguinaldos were first written a long time ago. A priest named Fray Fernando Larrea Jesus created them. He was born in Quito, Ecuador in the year 1700. After he became a priest in 1725, he preached in Ecuador and Colombia.
Fray Fernando wrote these prayers because a woman named Mrs. Clemencia Caycedo Jesus Velez asked him to. She was the founder of a school in Bogotá. The prayers were first published in 1743.
Many years later, in the 1800s, a nun from the same Catholic school made some changes to the novena. Her name was Sister María Ignacia. She added a part called "Los Gozos." These are like short rhyming verses that express hopes for Baby Jesus's arrival. "Los Gozos" are sung or prayed at the end of the daily prayers. This is often the part where people sing and play instruments like guitars, pianos, or harps.
In many towns and neighborhoods, priests invite their communities to gather at church to pray the novena. Sometimes, people even dress up as Joseph, Mary, Baby Jesus, and the animals from the nativity scene.
The Prayers: What Happens Each Day
The Novena of aguinaldos is prayed for nine days, from December 16 to December 24. It honors the Virgin Mary, St. Joseph, the Wise Men, and Baby Jesus. People can say the prayers by themselves or together in a group.
Often, the prayers are read from a special book that has all the prayers and songs. This book is passed around so everyone can read along. Just like the pilgrims in the Christmas story looked for shelter each night, a different family or friend might host the novena at their home each evening.
Here is the usual order of the readings for each night:
- Prayer for Every Day ("Oración para todos los días")
- Prayer to the Blessed Virgin ("Oración a la Sagrada Virgen")
- Prayer to St. Joseph ("Oración a San José")
- Daily Considerations ("Consideraciones para cada día")
- The Joys ("Los Gozos")
- Prayer to the Baby Jesus ("Oración al Niño Jesus")
See also
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In Spanish: Novena de Aguinaldos para niños Template:KIDDLE XL END
