Novena de Aguinaldos and Las Posadas 2026 in Australia: Latin Christmas from 16 to 24 December
Nine nights of prayers, carols, natilla and buñuelos for Colombians, and nine nights of posadas and piñatas for Mexicans. How the 16 to 24 December countdown works and how to do it in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane.
By Latinhood newsroom15 Nov 20264 min read
In much of Latin America Christmas is not one night, it's nine. From 16 to 24 December Colombian families gather for the Novena de Aguinaldos and Mexican families go out for Las Posadas. In 2026 the nine nights run from Wednesday 16 to Thursday 24 December, so most of them fall on weeknights: the trick in Australia is to keep them short and share the hosting.
The Novena de Aguinaldos, the Colombian way
The novena is a set of prayers read aloud on each of the nine nights before Christmas, one for each month Mary carried Jesus. It was written in the 18th century by the Franciscan friar Fernando de Jesús Larrea, and in the 19th century María Ignacia, the pen name of Bertilda Samper, added the gozos, the sung refrains everyone knows by heart: "Ven, ven, ven, ven a nuestras almas".
A typical night looks like this:
- Everyone gathers around the pesebre, the nativity scene, which in many homes is built with moss, lights and small houses.
- Someone reads the prayer for that day, then the group sings the gozos, often with maracas, tambourines and whatever the kids can bang on.
- Villancicos follow: "Tutaina", "Los peces en el río", "Mi burrito sabanero".
- Then the food: natilla, a set custard of milk, panela and cornflour, and buñuelos, little fried balls of cheese dough.
Each night usually moves to a different house, so the hosting is shared among family and friends.
Las Posadas, the Mexican way
Las Posadas recreate Mary and Joseph's search for a place to stay in Bethlehem. Guests split into two groups, one outside the door and one inside, and sing the letanía back and forth: the outside group asks for shelter, the inside group refuses, until finally the door opens. Then comes the party: ponche, a hot fruit punch, tamales, sweets and a star-shaped piñata.
How to do it in Australia
- Keep weeknights short: a 20-minute prayer and carols at 7 pm, food after, and everyone home at a reasonable hour. Save the big nights for the weekend of 19 and 20 December.
- Share the nights: divide the nine nights among families or housemates, as in Colombia.
- Make it summer-friendly: do the novena outside in the backyard or a park, and serve the natilla cold. Ponche works well chilled too.
- Print the novena: the text is widely shared online; one copy per family is enough.
Events and places this December
- Melbourne: Posada Navideña, Mexican Xmas Party, at Wheat, Wine & Whisky (284 Smith St, Collingwood) on Friday 18 December from 3 pm. It's a Mexican-style posada with a Christmas film, crafts, lotería, trivia, Spanish karaoke and a DJ until late. Kids are welcome from 3 pm to 7 pm. Run by Anima Creative. Tickets on Humanitix
- Melbourne: Cachivaches Latin Market has a Christmas edition in Sheds C and D at Queen Victoria Market on Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 November, 9 am to 4 pm, free entry. Expect Latin food, live music, dancing and gifts from independent businesses, and it's a good chance to stock up for the novena early. More info
- Brisbane: Los 14 Candelazos, Candela Viva's fourth anniversary, is a Colombian Christmas night with the classic December music. It's at Crowbar Brisbane, Fortitude Valley, on Saturday 5 December from 7 pm. Details and tickets
- Sydney: Lazybones Lounge in Marrickville closes the year with live Latin music. LatinFusionGroove holds its end-of-year party on Thursday 17 December at 7 pm (details) and Cuban Social Club plays on Friday 18 December at 7 pm (details).
- Brisbane: White Fest Brisbane 2026, SOUL'SA and Rumores' big Latin end-of-year party, with December classics and an all-white dress code, at Cloudland (641 Ann St, Fortitude Valley) on Saturday 19 December, 9 pm to 3 am. Tickets on Eventbrite
- Melbourne: La Gran Alborada, by HA Entertainment and Guadalupe, with December music, chicharrón, buñuelos and natilla at La Di Da on Saturday 5 December from 10 pm. Tickets on Eventbrite
- Sydney: Perreo y Velitas, Noche Blanca, Más Flow's boat party, leaves Circular Quay on Saturday 5 December at 7 pm. Tickets on Eventbrite
- The novena itself is still mostly prayed at home with friends and neighbours. If your community runs an open one, let us know and we'll add it to the Latinhood events agenda.
Where to buy natilla, buñuelos and piñatas
- Melbourne: Colombian food (productos colombianos) for mixes and panela, plus La Colombianita and Colombiantojos if you'd rather buy them made.
- Sydney: La Hacienda Latin Market, My Veci and Latin Deli.
- Brisbane: Latin Bakery Austin and Las Arepas de Lina.
The novena ends on the 24th, right before the big Christmas Eve dinner. For Nochebuena parties, the twelve grapes and New Year's Eve plans, see our guide to Latin Christmas and New Year in Australia.
Sources
Cover photos: buñuelos by John Alexis Guerra Gómez (CC BY-SA 2.0) and natilla by Jdvillalobos (CC0), Wikimedia Commons.
