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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE DATE: 21 December 2007 SUBJECT: Good Hope Celebrates the Holiday Season through Cultural Exploration
Today The Good Hope Middle School shared a "Tradiciones Navideñas". One of the highlights of a Good Hope education is the diversity that the school embodies, including a religious diversity that helps build and shape students into global citizens. The celebration was one every family and student could enjoy regardless of their beliefs. Señora Berg, Middle School Spanish teacher, stated that learning the celebrations of Latin Navidad did include a religious aspect because it is the purpose of so many of the cultures' traditions; and without that exposure you can't really understand the customs. Her goal of the event was to share with all families the experiences of these special traditions from a cultural perspective. The celebration included costumbres navideñas, villancicos, y el pesebre. Students explored the unique holiday traditions of Republica Dominicana, Puerto Rico, Venezuela, Mexico, and Spain. The students enjoyed guest speaker, Señoro Martinez, from Hispanos Unidos. He shared history on the Three Kings and brought costumes that three faculty members wore to surprise their students. Other guests included several parents that were eager to share stories and customs that had passed down through their families. La Parranda, which is celebrated in Puerto Rico and adapted in many other Caribbean islands was demonstrated and discussed by the students with a range of songs and instruments. The event is where a family surprises their unsuspecting friends and wakes them with their music, they enjoy food and beverages and then move on to other friends homes while growing in number. Las Posadas was shared by students, a very important nine day celebration that represents the story of Jospeh and Mary's search for shelter. When students were asked what they learned that surprised them most they were full of responses, some from students that thought they had known all there was to know about their own family's' traditions. This activity for one family led the grandmother and mother to share tales from their home country of Mexico with the student while making Pan De Polvo, a fragile cookie. Another student, Diana Cardenas '13, said her parents assisted her in the making of a piñata to share. Ana Foster, Diana's mother told the students how the traditional star shaped piñata represented the seven deadly sins and the candies were treats for faith. Gabriella Canales '13, donned a "Zarape" and noted each color represented a memory or story for the owner. The finale, and favorite of many, was the feast of "Platos Tipicos" prepared by students and parents. One student noted that while Coquito was also a Crucian tradition many students really never had a taste; the virgin drink made for this celebration was a favorite.###
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