Sharing Christmas traditions

Giavana Pavon marks a number on her Tombola board.

BY KARIMA ABOUELKHIR

Italian Honor Society and Italian Club hosted Buon Natale, a Christmas event, on December 22. Students celebrated Christmas by learning about Italian culture and playing games.

Club members presented common Italian Christmas traditions to the attendees. “I learned that on Christmas Eve in Italy, it is tradition to eat the seven fishes and then attend church at 12am that night,” said Emma Pepe.

Attendees also learned about the Italian folklore story of “La Befana.” “She goes around and gives coal for bad kids and gifts for good kids,” said Emanuel Marion.

Emma Pepe and Kyra Vella explain traditions to the students.

To celebrate, students brought gifts and played White Elephant. “I got to open my own gift and see everyone else also pick out gifts that they would enjoy,” said Pepe.

During the event, students enjoyed a game of Tombola, an Italian board game. “Playing Tombola, we used a bowl of random Italian numbers and called them out the same way normal bingo works,” said Sophia Pavon. “If you got every number on the card, you won Tombola.”

In Tombola, students practiced their Italian pronunciation. “We use all the numbers until 100,” said Alexa Magrino. “I had a lot of trouble saying 40 which is ‘quaranta’.”

Buon Natale brought festivity and Italian culture to OBHS students. “We held the event because we wanted to teach the members about Christmas in Italy, and we wanted to show them the traditions that go on in Italy,” said Jolie Vasfailo.