In México there are traditions all long of the year, one of this season are the Posadas (inn or shelter).
In this tradition, the Bible story of Mary and Joseph's journey to Bethlehem and their search for a place to stay is re-enacted. The tradition also involves a special song, as well as a variety of Mexican Christmas carols, breaking piñatas, and celebration. Source 1
The process is something like...
A procession gathers outside a house (usually someone known), sometimes a couple interprets the rol of Mary and Joseph.
The asking for shelter starts with a song from the procession, this songs aks for shelter for a couple that it's going to Bethlehem and don't have where to stay, Mary is pregnant. Thist firs song of request is then answered negatively.
This musical act of negotiation takes a couple of repetitions, the innkeeper (the family living in the house) acceds to leave them in.
The celebration, in the traditional way, starts with a bible reading, after that the host start to distribute food to the guests, varying from beans, tamales, atole, ponche or anything the host has prepared, in the no-traditional way, food in variety and alcohol. After all have eated something, comes the piñata.
Breaking the piñata is very funny, in my grandfathers time, the piñata was from crock pot, but... for safety reasons now is made of paper glued. The piñata is filled with fruit and candy (now preferred candy because the fruit gets damaged from the hits) and starts the attepts to breake it starts with the youngest present an so on.
After the piñata usually the procession disolves, the symbolic act has ended.
With symbolic act mean:
Hope you have some traditions too and have nice holydays.
