Novena of aguinaldos
Novena of Aguinaldos, also known as the novena ("Ninth to Baby Jesus" in Ecuador), is a set of prayers recited during the nine days before Christmas,[1] custom to Catholics in Colombia, Venezuela, and Ecuador. It is similar to the feast of Las Posadas in Mexico. Today, the novena is often a social event where families and friends pray, eat, and sing villancicos (christmas' carol) together.
History
The novena was created by Fray Fernando Larrea Jesus, born in Quito, Ecuador in 1700, who after his ordination in 1725 was a preacher in Ecuador and Colombia. Fray Fernando wrote it at the request of the founder of the School of Teaching in Bogota, Mrs. Clemencia Caycedo Jesus Velez. Many years later, a religious teacher, Mother Maria Ignacia (whose baptismal name was Bertilda Samper Acosta), modified it and added the joys.
The prayers
The novena of Aguinaldo is prayed for nine days from December 16 to December 24 to honor the Virgin Mary, St. Joseph, the Wise Men, and baby Jesus.[2] The prayers may be recited individually or together as a group.[1] Often a book with all the novena prayers will be passed around and read. Just as the pilgrims went to a different place each night seeking shelter, a different member of the group may host the novena each night.[2]
There are prayers for specific nights as well as a set of prayers that are read each night. The set of prayers that are repeated each night are the following:
- Prayer for Every Day
- Prayer to the Blessed Virgin
- Prayer to St. Joseph
- Daily Considerations
- Joys
- Prayer to the Baby Jesus
- Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory Be
