NEWBURYPORT — Students at the Edward G. Molin Upper Elementary School have been celebrating the holidays across the globe this month by turning their classroom doors into festive displays of spirit and cultural diversity.
Molin Principal Tara Rossi said students and teachers this year took on the challenge of adorning their doors with vibrant and imaginative artwork, representing holidays from around the world, from Yaldā Night to Las Posadas, and Christmas to Kwanzaa.
“We’re celebrating as many holidays as we can find,” she said.
Rossi said the school’s commitment to inclusivity and education is truly on display, making the holiday season even more magical for everyone involved and every classroom door tells the story of the rich traditions and customs associated with different cultures and religions at this time of year.
Fifth-graders Caroline Green and Mia Acton had decked their classroom door out with a representation of the Japanese celebration of last day of the year, Omisoka.
“I never knew about Omisoka,” Green said. “But I’ve learned a lot of cool facts about it and I really like this holiday.”
Green added she learned the Japanese have a bell they ring 108 times to usher off bad spirits and then another 100 times to welcome in good ones.
“That is really cool,” she said.
Acton learned that Japanese people clean their house to make a fresh start during Omisoka. She went on to say she’d clean her own room for Omisoka but added, “it’s already clean.”
Another pair of fifth-graders, Eloise Itrato and Gabby Esile, were decorating their classroom door Wednesday to celebrate the ancient Middle Eastern holiday Yaldā Night, which celebrates the winter solstice.
“They use a lot of bright colors because they want to represent the sun coming back,” Itrato said. “The solstice is the darkest day and they’re happy the sun is coming back.”
Esile said plenty of stories are told during Yaldā Night and poetry is also written.
“They also like to play music and celebrate with family and dance and things like that,” she said. “They are also celebrating the creation of fire.”
Yaldā Night is traditionally celebrated in Iraq, Kurdistan, Iran and Afghanistan, where a classmate of Esile and Itrato came from.
“There’s a student in their class who celebrates,” Rossi said.
Esile said learning about all the different holidays with her friends has been a terrific experience, while Rossi said the door decorating project showcases the creativity of the school, while also fostering a sense of unity and understanding among students.
“There were some holidays that I had never heard of,” she said. “So, the kids and I are learning a lot. All the kids are going around to all the doors and learning about all the different holidays. We sure have decked the halls.”
Staff writer Jim Sullivan covers Newburyport for The Daily News. He can be reached via email at jsullivan@newburyportnews.com or by phone at 978-961-3145. Follow him on Twitter @ndnsully.