We are studying winter holidays from various cultures right now in social studies. First, we learned about the traditions associated with celebrating Kwanzaa. We made paper mkekas, which are woven mats used on the table at a Kwanzaa feast.
This week, Miss DellaValle taught us about a tradition her Italian-American family includes in their Christmas celebrations: the Feast of the Seven Fishes. In this tradition, her family has a multiple course meal which includes… you guessed it, seven different types of fish! Their menu changes yearly, but Miss DellaValle shared one example with us.
She also shared some photos of her family’s celebration throughout the years. Miss DellaValle also brought a couple of special treats to share!
The first was some Italian stuffed bread that they always include in their feast. She brought two varieties for the students to sample.
The second treat was a very special guest: her father, Mr. DellaValle! Part of their family tradition includes a reading of “The Night Before Christmas” by Mr. DellaValle. He agreed to visit our class and share his reading with us!
Finally, we made a fun fish puppet craft, in which we traced our hands and added sparkly details.
A big thank you to Miss DellaValle and her father for teaching us about the Feast of the Seven Fishes! We love learning about different traditions and holidays, so if you have one to share, please contact me! We’d love to have you!
