Visitors in Guatemala will be surprised tonight when they see groups of people, passing by the streets, this guatemalas will go with red lanterns, singing and playing the "tu-cu-ti-cu-tu" sound of turtle shells.

Las Posadas is a nine-day celebration with origins in Spain. "Posada" is Spanish for "lodging", or "accommodation"; it is said in plural because it is celebrated more than one day in that period. The nine day novena represents the nine months of pregnancy.

The Posadas tradition was introduced in the century XIV by the Hermano Pedro de Betancourt who sung these verses:

Aunque tan chiquito

este niño bello,

sepa todo el mundo

que es el rey de cielo