Christmas in Texas

Celebrate La Posada in the Parks

The first Christmas celebration in Mexico took place in 1538 when missionaries brought Roman Catholicism to the new continent. Since then, the story of La Posada, where Joseph and Mary look for a place to stay the night of the original Christmas eve, has been celebrated in this part of the world. At Fort Leaton State Historical Site in Presidio, Texas folks from both sides of the border bring this religious story to life.

La Posada is a Mexican traditional Christmas celebration. It is a re-enactment of the Virgin Mary and Joseph going door to door asking for a place to stay overnight.

Everyone in the town gets involved in the celebration. After food and festivities, the audience breaks into two groups to sing the Posada song while a priest leads the procession.

It’s not just a song and it's not really a play or a skit but it’s just a complete presentation.

Also part of tradition is the breaking of the pinata, representing the seven deadly sins. Once defeated, out come the fruits and candies.

[Tony] Fort Leaton here is known to exist since back in the mid-1700s," explains Tony Manriquez, a former park superintendent, "and religion was always you know part of the people back then as well as right now. It’s happiness, glory you know around the holidays."

Fort Leaton will present La Posada again this year on December 18^th. Las Posadas begins on December 16 and continues for nine days followed by the presentation of gifts on January 6 which is called Dia de los Tres Reyes or Three King Day. The Texas Parks and wildlife Department has more information on holidays in the parks all over Texas.

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The Texas Parks & Wildlife Department produces these multi-media reports as an educational resource.

Refill, revere, rejoice

Austin distiller refills Kentucky Bourbon bottles for $1 in UT game day stunt

Still Austin Kentucky Bourbon refills

Photo courtesy of Still Austin Whiskey Co.

Still Austin is filling up empty Kentucky Bourbon bottles and adding its own label in a display of Texas dominance.

Cheap bourbon isn't usually something people line up for, but in this case they know it's good. Still Austin Whiskey Co., a favorite Austin distiller, is offering $1 refills of its own Cask Strength Bourbon in empty Kentucky Bourbon bottles on November 23.

The promotion celebrates the Texas Longhorns vs. Kentucky Wildcats football match the same day. This is a highly anticipated game because the two teams have only been matched up once, back in 1951. Kentucky coach Mike Stoops reportedly also upped the ante by saying the Longhorns have "no weaknesses."

Essentially, this is a parallel challenge by Still Austin: Replace your Kentucky Bourbon with our Texas spirit and watch the Lone Star State win again.

"Why would I ever taint your bourbon with dried up Kentucky juice[?]" asked a (frankly, terrifying) customer on Instagram.

There is a misconception that bourbon has to be made in Kentucky. The Kentucky Distillers’ Association itself points out that, "According to the 1964 Congressional Resolution, in order to have “Bourbon” on the label it must be made in the United States of America and meet all other federal “standards of identity” for Bourbon."

Still Austin CEO and co-founder Chris Seals is setting the record straight with a little snark, inviting both fans and "skeptics" to stop by to take advantage of the deal.

“We’re deeply grateful to Kentucky for inventing the stuff, but after 200 years of the same old bourbon, people want something new,” said Seals in a press release.“The idea that great bourbon can only come from Kentucky is a myth based on decades of misinformation. We’re inviting everyone still holding onto this old guard notion to ‘Kentucky Fill Up’ to experience the difference for themselves.”

The product he's chosen to represent the brand, the Cask Strength Bourbon, is described as "a deeper more 'metal' version of our beloved straight bourbon." It's 116 proof (58 percent ABV) and has won double gold at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition twice, in 2022 and 2023.

Still Austin will only refill 500 bottles. Here are the rules: The bottles have to be 750 milliliters, clean, intact (with the original cap on hand), and they must have originally contained bourbon from a Kentucky Distillery. There are two time slots for refilling at 9 am and 11:30 am. Patrons can get tickets ahead of time at stillaustin.com.

In addition to the fill-ups, Still Austin will host a watch party starting at 2:30 pm. More Texas-Kentucky crossover will include Frozen Texas Julep cocktails, Texas fried chicken, and an armadillo derby race. There will also be exclusive merch and giveaways. Still Austin is the official corporate partner of Texas Athletics.

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Fans of Austin sports and Austin food and drinks can now score tickets to The Tailgate, CultureMap's all-out party devoted to everyone’s favorite way to get in the gameday spirit. The event, presented by Verizon, goes down from 6-9 pm December 12 at Distribution Hall. Find out more about it here.

whiskey university of texas longhorns

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