Friday, January 17, 2025
Students at Lenox Elementary School in Baldwin participated in a unique cultural experience before the winter break, exploring holiday traditions that are celebrated across the globe.
The event, dubbed Holidays Around the World and organized by first-grade teacher Michelle Victoria and second-grade teacher Jessica Katsoulakis, introduced students in kindergarten through fifth grade to the diverse ways other countries celebrate the holiday season.
“Holidays Around the World at Lenox not only celebrated diversity but also instilled a lifelong appreciation for the rich cultural tapestry that unites us all,” Sheilah Jefferson-Isaac, the school’s principal, said in a news release.
The school day began with an announcement over the public address system, prompting students to grab their “passports” and head to classrooms that were transformed into cultural stations. Each classroom offered students a look into how holiday traditions are marked in different countries, with activities designed to engage students in learning about these global celebrations.
The event was part of Lenox’s Joyful Wednesdays, a program providing students with hands-on learning experiences beyond the typical classroom curriculum.
In the Swedish-themed classroom, students learned about St. Lucia’s Day, a winter celebration focused on the festival of lights and traditionally celebrated on Dec. 13. They crafted paper versions of Tomten, the Swedish Christmas gnome, and explored the significance of light during the long winter nights.
Students then made their way to Australia, where they discovered how Christmas there is celebrated in the summer. They compared traditions observed in the Northern Hemisphere with those in the Southern Hemisphere and learned about the popular Australian custom of holding a Christmas barbecue on the beach, a stark contrast to the snowy scenes often associated with the holiday.
In the classroom transformed into Italy, students were introduced to La Befana, the witch who brings gifts to children on Epiphany Eve, which is the night of Jan. 5. They read “The Legend of Old Befana” by Tomie dePaola and created their own star ornaments, symbolizing the light of Jesus Christ and the hope that He brings to the world.
Students visiting the classroom dedicated to Mexico witnessed a celebration of both color and tradition. Each then decorated a poinsettia, the flower native to Mexico that plays a role in the country’s Christmas festivities, symbolizing good will and community spirit.
Meanwhile, the England-themed classroom taught students the tradition of Christmas crackers, a British holiday custom.
The event at Lenox also included several stations focused on cultural festivals celebrated around the world.
In the station dedicated to Hanukkah, students learned about the significance of lighting the menorah and the miracle of the oil, and took turns spinning a dreidel.
At the Diwali station, they created lanterns symbolizing the victory of light over darkness, while learning about the rich traditions and customs of this important holiday for millions around the world.
In the Kwanzaa station, students learned about the seven principles of this African-American holiday, designed and created their own kinara, or candle holder, and discussed the importance of community, culture and heritage.
Finally, in the classroom dedicated to the Lunar New Year, students immersed themselves in the customs of the festival, crafting Chinese lanterns symbolizing fortune and good luck and learning about the importance of family gatherings.
Throughout the day, students collected stamps for their passports, marking each new experience they encountered.
“The excitement and joy on their faces were undeniable, marking a perfect conclusion to the school’s holiday season,” Jefferson-Isaac said.
