Feliz Navidad

from the Latinx Student Union

By: Patsy Vargas - Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Each year, the Archbishop Mitty community looks forward to the holidays and the opportunity to celebrate Christmas. During this time of year, families gather together, continue traditions, and create new memories. As Catholics, we acknowledge the birth of Christ and remember this day in a special way.

Here on campus, the Latinx Student Union works directly with Campus Ministry to organize a celebration for the feast day of Our Lady of Guadalupe, or Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe, with a Mass on December 12th. In Latinx communities throughout Latin America and in the United States, this day is just as important as Christmas. Many families attend Mass starting at midnight, often arriving to a colorful congregation with a mariachi band playing the traditional birthday hymn of “Las Mañanitas.” Though AMHS does not host a mariachi band, LSU students gather to decorate an altar for la Virgen de Guadalupe in the Chapel. Poinsettias and red roses decorate an image symbolizing the story in which Our Lady appeared before an Indigenous person named Juan Diego in what is now considered Mexico City. The Christmas celebration does not end there. At AMHS, we continue the Christmas traditions by bringing together the Black Student Union and Latinx Student Union. Before dismissal after a semester of hard work, the clubs throw their annual Christmas sweater party! Students arrive in the Monarch Room with their colorful attire and an abundance of Christmas spirit. Club moderators provide donuts as students share their plans for the upcoming break with Christmas carols such as “Silent Night,” “This Christmas” by Donny Hathaway, and the popular “Feliz Navidad” by Jose Feliciano playing in the background. Students are given 15 minutes to take out their iPads and draw an original Christmas tree. Gift cards and other prizes are awarded to the students with the best drawings. The meeting ends with our annual group picture. Outside of school, many families in the Latin American tradition come together

LSU students gather to to make tamales in preparation for a decorate an altar for grand celebration on Christmas Eve. These tamales will be eaten at the strike la Virgen de Guadalupe of midnight, along with other holiday in the Chapel. treats such as buñuelos, a Mexican dessert. Senior Abigail Hernandez’s

Poinsettias and red roses favorite part of Christmas is making decorate an image symbolizing tamales with her family and watching the story in which she Christmas movies. For Hernandez, Christmas morning is celebrated with appeared before an Mass and the opening of presents. Senior

Indigenous person named Akzel Alfaro also enjoys Christmas because it means extra time spent with

Juan Diego in what is now his mom and grandma.

considered Mexico City.

Just a few days later, on New Year’s Eve, or Noche Vieja, families gather, saluting the New Year with a hug and kiss on the cheek along with a cup of twelve grapes to be finished within the first minute of the new year to ensure a year of luck and prosperity. Some more adventurous family and friends come with a suitcase to take for a walk around the block to assure a well-traveled year to come. On behalf of the Latinx Student

Union: Merry Christmas, Feliz Navidad, Happy Kwanzaa, Happy Hanukkah, and Happy Holidays! Have a safe and wonderful season!

Students from the Latinx Student Union, formerly known as the LASU, were led by Monarch Monica (Lares ’99) Sharrett and Mrs. Peggy Lemak in creating this painting of Our Lady of Guadalupe, which hangs in the Chapel.