First Grade Re-enacts the Journey of Las Posadas

Christ the Redeemer Catholic School first grade students visited nine classrooms for the nine months Mary was pregnant with Jesus. Better known as Las Posadas (Posadas is Spanish for “lodgings” or “accommodations”), the whole school was able to understand this rich tradition in Latin culture by participating in this “journey.”

“Las Posadas is an important tradition to enact because it helps the students understand how people in other places around the world celebrate Christmas,” First Grade Teacher Michelle Pye said.

Las Posadas, traditionally celebrated on Dec. 16-24, commemorates Mary and Joseph’s difficult journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem in search of a warm place to stay the night.

“When they learned they were going to recreate their own Posadas at school they could not wait to get started,” First Grade Teacher Aileen Schwab said. “Each day they asked, ‘Is it today? Is it today?’ Ha! They also commented on how cool it is to walk around to other parts of the school and see students/teachers they don't always see.”

To recreate this tradition, students dressed as the holy family and, in song, they walked to nine classrooms looking for "lodging."

“By singing ‘our hearts are open, come and be born in our hearts,’ students are able to prepare themselves and the people they encounter along the journey from ‘inn’ to ‘inn’ for Christmas,” Schwab said.

When they arrived at a classroom, the students dressed as Mary and Joseph knocked and asked, "Is there any room in the inn?" The teacher or staff member who answered responded, "I'm sorry there is no room, but you can stop in and pray." The first grade students then entered, said a prayer with the class they were in, and left.

“First graders are more likely to remember the true meaning of Christmas when they re-enact Joseph's and Mary's search for a room in Bethlehem,” said First Grade Teacher Mary Crenshaw. “The beloved Mexican tradition of Las Posadas, also, teaches our students about diversity and builds community.”

The first grade team coordinated several projects throughout Advent to help their students understand this season. The meaningful activities include learning about the importance of the Advent wreath, making their own nativity and discussing each person or animal and learning about saints.

“We also focus on the Advent saints: St. Nicholas, St. Juan Diego and Our Lady of Guadalupe, and St. Lucy,” Pye said. “Through these saints we learn more about different cultures and get a chance to celebrate the birth of Jesus in different ways.”

Schwab said, at CtR, Advent is a fun time where continuing to integrate Christ in everything done in the classroom really shines.

“Each morning my class surrounds the Advent wreath and we sing ‘O Come, O Come Emmanuel’ and pray the St. Andrew novena to remind ourselves that this time of Advent is a time of prayer and focus on Jesus' coming,” she said. “The connections they make are pretty incredible. In math during geometry a student said, ‘A circle has no vertices just like our Advent wreath! There is no end to God's love!’ It was precious.”

All grade levels infuse Advent into their curriculum and the first grade team is grateful for the participation of the whole school in their Las Posadas project.

“Our first grade would love to thank all the teachers and staff who are helping make Las Posadas the beginning of an awesome tradition at the school,” Schwab said. “We couldn't do it without their help!”

For more information about S.T.R.E.A.M. learning at CtR, visit our website at ctrschool.com/stream-school.