Elementary Students Get A Cultural Lesson With Las Posadas Procession

It was a cultural lesson that ended with cupcakes and cookies.

Three first grade classes and a combination first/second grade class participated in a Las Posadas procession Thursday afternoon at Hillside Elementary School.

The activity taught the young students about the cultural significance of the ceremony, which has origins in Spain and is widely celebrated today in Mexico and Guatemala.

In the procession, participants carry candles and re-enact the search by Mary and Joseph for lodging as they carried the baby Jesus with them.

On Wednesday, one of the first grade classrooms kicked it off by walking with paper "candles" in hand to the adjoining classroom. They asked, "Is there room?" The other class replied, "No, there isn't" and joined them.

The group then went to the third and fourth classrooms and got the same response. The entire congregation then walked to the cafeteria, where they were told there indeed was room for them.

Inside, teachers and parent volunteers had set up a celebration with the cookies and cupcakes.

Hillside Principal Pam VandeKamp said the project taught students a lesson in social studies. They also incorporated it into their reading and writing lessons.

This fall, the students have also learned the origins and cultural significance of Halloween, Hanukkah,

"It's fun and interesting for the students," said VandeKamp. "We encourage students to learn and this is a great way to do that."

VandeKamp said the lessons are not religion-based but focus instead of history and culture.

"We're not teaching religion," she said. "We're teaching about other cultures."