This collection is made up of the songs that El Coro del Real Presidio de Santa Barbara performed from 1991 to 2009 for its yearly event Las Posadas, as well as several other performances.

Elizabeth Hvolboll and Luis Moreno are founders of El Coro del Real Presidio de Santa Barbara, a local choral group which celebrates and performs music of the Californios. The group sings in Santa Barbara's annual Una Noche de Las Posadas, a holiday event which has been a long-time community tradition in Santa Barbara. Las Posadas (The Inns) commemorates Mary and Joseph's journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem and their nine-day search for shelter. Una Noche de Las Posadas, a one-night version of the celebration, begins with traditional holiday songs performed in the candlelit Presidio Chapel by El Coro del Real Presidio de Santa Bárbara. Guests are invited to join the choir in a procession led by children portraying an angel, Joseph, and Mary as well as their small burro as they stroll and sing their way to State Street and into De la Guerra Plaza, in search of lodging. The procession ends at Casa de la Guerra as Joseph and Mary finally find shelter and attendees enjoy more singing, traditional refreshments and a piñata for children. This holiday tradition was brought to Santa Barbara by its Spanish and Mexican settlers and is still observed throughout the American Southwest as a religious and social celebration.

2 Linear Feet

All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Archivist and Librarian. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the Santa Barbara Trust for Historic Preservation Research Center as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the reader.

Collection is open to researchers.