Las Posadas: A Time to Lead
On Friday, December 18, the whole school will meet in the Church Square Park for our annual Las Posadas celebration. Each student in grade 6-8 has an important role in the celebration and is expected to attend and arrive on time at 6:00pm. Middle school students will lead the celebration by playing the parts of Mary & Joseph and by carrying stars to guide the couple and our community as we process around the park looking for a place that will welcome the Holy Family.
For middle school students, Las Posadas is a culmination of their years leading celebrations. As the oldest students, they lead the procession around the park. For years, they have participated in the celebration playing the roles of sheep, shepherds, angels, and other characters from the nativity story. Now, they get to wear the much coveted serapes and must work together to keep hundreds of people together. In the days leading up to the celebration, students spend time practicing their star carrying technique and walk the parade route in preparation for the big event.
At the end of the procession, Mary and Joseph are welcomed in the “inn” and our celebration continues with a concert and telling of the Christmas story. Students in chorus have been preparing since early in the year for the concert. As musical leaders in the school, they will help lead congregational carols and will celebrate the birth of Christ with selections in Latin, Spanish, and English. In preparation for the concert, they will have extra rehearsals during mini-term. The Las Posadas celebration is not only a significant act of service for chorus, it is also requirement that is graded. This service is often included in high school portfolios. Students in service will be working behind the scenes to move equipment, set the stage, and make sure the concert runs smoothly. It takes a lot of work and the entire middle school to make Las Posadas happen for our community. We are grateful for their leadership!
For more information about traditional Las Posadas celebrations, visit this website.