December 22nd, 2011
Mexican Christmas Fiesta and Holiday Sing Along for Thursday, December 22
Today was our Mexican Fiesta! We started by making farolitos (little lanterns) out of paper and reading a book called The Night of Las Posadas, a story about a Las Posadas procession in New Mexico that tells the story of Mary and Joseph looking for shelter.
We then started our own Los Posadas. We went to the cafeteria and the office, and they wouldn’t let us in for shelter, but Mrs. Dillard in our Literacy class finally gave us shelter and we started our fiesta! We sang Noche de Paz (Silent Night) and Cascabel (Jingle Bells). We then went outside for sparklers!
We came back in to take a whack at the piñata. It lasted long enough for everyone to take a swing! Then we headed back to the room to eat. The menu included:
- Mexican-style tacos on corn tostada shells;
- Spicy shredded chicken eaten with torn flour tortillas;
- Nopalitos (prickly pear cactus!);
- Pepinos (cucumbers with lemon juice and salt);
- Mexican hot chocolate (hot chocolate with cinnamon); and,
- Buñelos (fried flour tortillas with cinnamon and sugar).
Later, we played the Dreidel game and “Toma Todo,” a Mexican top game much like the Jewish dreidel. Students start with ten beans, then take or put in beans as the top says. The person with the winning amount of beans could select a Mexican pop.
We ended with the McGrath Holiday Sing-Along. Our class sang “Joy to the World” and taught the school how to sing it with motions.
A grande-sized thanks to the parents who helped prepare and serve food today at the fiesta, and for all the generous donations–we had more than enough food and everyone had their fill!
Feliz Navidad!
