Celebrate La Pastorela at MOSTHistory Dec. 8

A Shepherds’ Play is a tradition reborn in this family-friendly event from 1–5 p.m.

The Museum of South Texas History invites the community to celebrate the family-friendly holiday tradition La Pastorela (A Shepherds’ Play) from 1–5 p.m. on Dec. 8, included in the fee for regular museum admission. This indoor and outdoor festival will include performances, children’s activities, traditional Mexican foods and beverages for sale, vendors selling holiday crafts and even a visit from Cowboy Santa. Highlighting the afternoon’s festivities and showing at 2:30 p.m. will be the play, La Pastorela, a fun and interactive performance that teaches the story of the shepherds seeking the Christ child.

For many Rio Grande Valley (Valley) residents, celebrating the holidays means keeping cultural traditions alive. Family and friends gather together to prepare for this important time of year as the distinct, sweet aroma of Mexican hot chocolate with canela, or cinnamon, reminds us that it is indeed time for Christmas. Steeped in cultural history that sets the stage for the holidays, pastorelas, or shepherds’ plays, are performed throughout the holiday season by both amateur and professional actors. The play incorporates audience participation and is often a witty, theatrical presentation that dates back to Mexico’s Colonial period when Roman Catholic missionaries attempted to convert and teach the scripture through the dramatization of stories from the Bible.

In South Texas, pastorelas were traditionally performed in ranch pastures and in rural communities. Rio Grande City maintained the tradition for about 100 years. Now in its third year at MOSTHistory, the tale of shepherds joyfully following the star of Bethlehem to the birthplace of Christ, with temptations along the way, continues to be a Valley holiday tradition. Spend a fun-filled afternoon of holiday entertainment as MOSTHistory preserves and presents La Pastorela, a tradition reborn.

Admission to La Pastorela is the regular admission price, passes excluded: $7 adults (ages 18+); $5 seniors with ID (ages 62+), students with ID (ages 13+); $4 children ages 4 to 12; free, children ages 3 and under. FRIENDS of the museum are admitted free as a benefit of FRIENDship. For more information about MOSTHistory’s La Pastorela, including becoming a FRIEND, visit MOSTHistory.org or call +1-956-383-6911.

Nativity III by artist Flor Larios