Learning About Winter Celebrations: Traditions of Light, Hope, and Community

This week's Town Meetings explored winter religious and cultural celebrations from around the world, focusing on a common theme: light. Students discovered that while families celebrate different traditions, people across cultures respond to winter's darkness by bringing light, warmth, and hope into their homes.

Each group explored content tailored to their developmental level. Pre-kindergarten through second grade students learned about St. Lucia Day, Hanukkah, Christmas, and Kwanzaa through an original story featuring four neighborhood friends. Our youngest learners focused on counting candles, identifying colors, and recognizing symbols through movement and interactive activities. First and second graders explored each celebration more deeply, discussing what these traditions teach us about hope, memory, and community.

Third through fifth grade students examined a broader range of celebrations—including Winter Solstice, Las Posadas, and Bodhi Day—and analyzed common themes across cultures through thoughtful discussions. Middle school students explored the historical and cultural significance of traditions, considering how they connect us to our ancestors and communities.

Throughout the meetings, we investigated what unites us across cultures: the need for community and connection, the desire to gather together, and the impulse to create beauty in dark times. Students left with an invitation to pay attention to the lights around them this winter—in neighbors' windows, in store displays, along their streets—and to think about how light brings comfort during the darkest season. We encourage you to extend this learning by pointing out decorations together and discussing what your own traditions mean to you.

We're grateful for the opportunity to explore these themes with our students in ways that deepen our connection to each other and our shared humanity.