Learning a world of understanding

Sparta - In Armenia, Christmas is celebrated in January, in Latvia, Santa dresses in white and this year, while some children unwrap their gifts, Jewish children will be gathering to celebrate one of their most important days of their faith. These are some of the facts Sparta children are learning during Multicultural Week, which is being celebrated by the district from Dec. 5 to Dec. 9. The idea behind the event is to expose the students to holiday traditions from different religions and countries. As part of cultural event, the third grade class at Helen Morgan School will host guest speakers throughout the month of December to learn more about different holidays and traditions from around the world. “We try to find parents from all different backgrounds who are willing to explain to the children their firsthand experiences of their native traditions,” said teacher Barbara Kostenko. Veidis Mara visited the school on Dec. 7, and explained to the students stories her family traditions holiday celebrates. “The main difference in the celebration of Christmas is that we don’t go to bed until Santa has come, and by the way, in Latvia, Santa dresses in all white,” said Mara. “Our Christmas trees are decorated with real candles, sparklers and candies wrapped in colorful papers.” Catherine Farinella’s third grade class hosted Ellie Wolfson, who described the differences in Armenian Christmas celebrations compared to those of an American Christmas. According to Wolfson, Armenians celebrate Christmas on Jan. 6. However, celebrations start a week earlier, when they stop eating meat. The day before Christmas Armenians do not eat anything at all, then on Christmas day, they feast upon foods such as braided bread, rice pilaf, lamb meat and Baklava (a dessert). The teachers used bulletin boards depicting holidays from around the world and reading books with cultural messages to help illustrate the similarities and differences of different in traditions. “During this time of year, we read books like Molly’s Pilgrim to the children to point out how some of the American traditions were originated from other countries, like the Christmas tree and lights coming from Germany,” said Farinella. “We try to point out the common themes in the way people celebrate their holidays through music, lights, special food and decorating. That’s what makes us the same even though we are different.”