Las Posadas

E's preschool hosts an annual holiday program called Las Posadas. Beginning with the oldest class, the 5-year olds, the children walk from classroom to classroom holding candles and asking for a place to stay. In each room, the resident class answers that there is no room in their classroom, and to look somewhere else - and then joins the line to progress to the next classroom. They end in the toddler room, where the music teacher leads them in singing several songs about Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and winter. Parents are invited to attend this event and sing along, and then visit their child's classroom afterwards for cookies and cocoa.

As with every event at this preschool we've grown to love dearly, it is very simple, sweet, and lends a definite feeling of community. E doesn't attend school on Fridays, but we made a special trip there this morning so that he could participate. He was so excited and proud to take part, and to have Ben and I there to watch! This is E's class just before the 4- and 5-year olds came into their room, being given directions by their lead teacher, Maria. E had been listening intently but couldn't resist flashing me a grin when he saw the camera come out!