Following the Footsteps of Tradition

Christmastime is Rosa Sarabia’s reason for living.

“I just love it,” the 45-year-old woman said as she placed the finishing touches on her elaborate backyard nativity scene.

Sarabia has turned her giant creche into an annual tradition, which includes a celebration of Las Posadas, a reenactment of Mary and Joseph’s journey to Bethlehem before Christ’s birth.

The reenactment, traditionally celebrated on each of the nine nights before Christmas, was one of a number of Las Posadas celebrations that began Monday throughout the county.

The reenactment at Sarabia’s Fullerton home will continue nightly through Christmas Eve.

“I’m keeping the tradition alive,” Sarabia said about the event at her home. “I feel like a little girl every time I do this.”

Sarabia’s parents made similar scenes in her hometown, a small village near Yahualica, Mexico.

“We lived on a ranch and my dad used to cook for about 70 people each night during Las Posadas,” she said. Sarabia said she would help her mother prepare the decorations.

She said her family would use grass, tree branches and rocks to form the manger where they placed statues of Mary, Joseph, Jesus, an angel and the Three Wise Men. They also fed their visitors tamales, hot chocolate and Mexican sweetbread.

When Sarabia moved to Fullerton 10 years ago, she filled in the backyard swimming pool so she could recreate Las Posadas. She said she had promised her parents that she would continue the tradition after their deaths.

Her home is covered in miniature Christmas lights. The nativity scene is surrounded by a waterfall, small trees, carousels, a Mexican farm village, cactuses and a blue sky made of plywood with hundreds of star-shaped lights.

“This is something that’s in my heart,” Sarabia said. “It’s something I cannot stop doing because it feels so good, so exciting.”

The public is invited to visit the Sarabia home, 4300 W. Flower Ave., Fullerton.

Though the daily Las Posadas procession in Sarabia’s backyard concludes next Tuesday, she will keep her doors open for public view until Jan. 6--Dia de los Reyes Magos, or Day of the Magi.

And like her parents, Sarabia will serve tamales, tortillas and Mexican sweetbread.

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Posadas Parades

Las Posadas processions are being celebrated throughout the county through Christmas Eve. The public is being invited to participate and is encouraged to carry candles or flashlights. Here are some of the locations and times:

* Tonight- Dec. 23: Placita Santa Fe, Downtown Placentia, beginning at Bradford Avenue and Main Street; 6:30 p.m.

* Tonight- Dec. 23: Our Lady of the Pillar Church, 1622 W. 6th St., Santa Ana; 7 p.m.

* Tonight-Dec. 24: St. Boniface Church, 120 Janss S., Anaheim; 6 p.m.

* Tonight- Dec. 24: Rosa Sarabia’s home, 4300 W. Flower Ave., Fullerton; 7:30 p.m. through Dec. 24, 10 p.m. Christmas Eve.

* Friday-Valencia Community Center, 301 W. Valencia Drive, Fullerton; 6 p.m.

* Saturday-Corbin Community Center, 2215 W. McFadden Ave., Santa Ana; 6 p.m.

Source: Individual programs; Researched by MIMI KO CRUZ and DEBRA CAND / For The Times