Christmas fiestas

Three annual Orange County events that revel in the holiday traditions of Mexico are expected to draw thousands of Latinos and others interested in exploring the Southland’s rich multicultural heritage.

The programs have become increasingly popular for families looking to learn more about seasonal celebrations in Mexico, particularly Las Posadas, a reenactment of Mary and Joseph’s journey to Bethlehem.

Santa Ana’s Bowers Museum hosts its annual Las Posadas procession and fiesta Sunday; South Coast Repertory will stage its ninth “La Posada Magica,” in a spiffed-up version opening Friday in the new Julianne Argyros Stage; and Nati Cano and Linda Ronstadt will appear tonight in the ninth presentation of “Fiesta Navidad,” a mariachi concert at the Orange County Performing Arts Center that includes a nod to Las Posadas.

None are intended to displace the plethora of productions of “A Christmas Carol” or annual presentations of “The Nutcracker” ballet, organizers say. They just want to offer alternatives for Southern Californians that hit a little closer to home.

“It’s a cultural tradition,” says Genevieve Barrios-Southgate, the Bowers Museum’s community liaison who helps organize that facility’s event.

“It’s about audiences coming to support the work,” says Diane Rodriguez, director of “La Posada Magica,” whose husband, Jose Delgado, is a producer of “Fiesta Navidad.” “When you see ‘Posada Magica,’ it’s hard to get a seat. And the mariachi show is in a 3,000-seat theater and it’s still packed.”

At the Bowers, Las Posadas will take its traditional form. During a candlelight procession, two children will handle the roles of Mary and Joseph, and two groups of volunteers will sing. In the time-honored ritual, one chorus outside the museum courtyard will ask for shelter while another inside will refuse until the last acceptance song, in which an innkeeper finally welcomes Mary and Joseph inside.

Afterward, singers and onlookers can celebrate at a fiesta in the courtyard. Dancers from Santa Ana’s Fiesta Ballet Folklorico will perform, and tamales, pan dulce (sweet bread) and champurrado (a hot chocolate-porridge drink) will be available for $1 to $2 each. Children will be invited to break a pinata and visit with a bilingual Santa Claus.

At South Coast Rep, Octavio Solis’ “La Posada Magica” uses the procession as a jumping-off point to tell the story of a little girl who has lost her faith in humanity. The show points up the importance of the extended family in Latino culture, says Rodriguez, but it also has a universal theme.

“It’s about the importance of believing in your community: If you participate in your neighborhood and take care of it, it will take care of you,” she says.

Directing the show takes Rodriguez back to her days growing up in San Juan Bautista in Northern California. Each year her community would present miracle plays at their church.

“They were amazing, with devils and angels and huge horses on wheels that would have to enter the church through the back door,” she says. Rehearsing for “Fiesta Navidad” also stirs childhood memories for “Fiesta Navidad” director Cano, founder of Mariachi Los Camperos de Nati Cano, which will accompany Ronstadt.

“I grew up in Jalisco,” he says, “and I remember getting together with family and friends, breaking the pinata, drinking atole [a hot porridge drink], eating tamales and staying up all night.”

The concert will be staged with a Christmas-in-Mexico set, folkloric dancers and a holiday sing-along. Cano notes that it’s an opportunity to hear mariachis away from a restaurant or cantina and a perfect time to talk to children about the importance of traditional music.

When children come to this show,” Cano says, “they’ll learn the beauty of the mariachi and that we all have to preserve it, otherwise we might lose it.”

For those who want to participate rather than just observe, the Hispanic Arts Council will provide song sheets and candles for anyone wanting to join in at the Bowers’ event. Barrios-Southgate says the songs are easy to learn on the spot.

“Wear traditional Mexican dress if you wish,” says Barrios-Southgate. “And by all means, dress warmly.”

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Holiday traditions

Las Posadas: Bowers Museum of Cultural Art, 2002 N. Main St., Santa Ana. Sunday, 5:30-7:30 p.m. Admission is free. Tamales, $2. Pan dulce and champurrado, $1. (714) 567-3655.

“La Posada Magica”: South Coast Repertory, 655 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa. Runs Friday through Dec. 24. Performances are Tuesdays through Fridays at 8 p.m., Saturdays at 3 and 8 p.m. and Sundays at 12:30 and 4:30 p.m. Tickets: $15-$35. (714) 708-5555.

“Fiesta Navidad”: Orange County Performing Arts Center, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa. With Mariachi Los Camperos de Nati Cano, Linda Ronstadt and Ballet Folklorico Ollin. Tonight. Tickets: $20-$69. Presented by the Philharmonic Society of Orange County (949) 553-2422.