Record-Journal (Meriden, CT)

Mexican tradition visits Choate

WALLINGFORD – Some surprised Choate students were greeted at their door Sunday by Mary and Joseph seeking a place to stay during the first Posada Navidena, a joint program of Choate Rosemary Hall and the Spanish Community of Wallingford.

The Posada Navidena is an old Mexican tradition acting out the New Testament journey Mary and Joseph took to Bethlehem for the Roman census before the birth of Jesus. Choate students Catherine McClure, 16, and Justin Hall, 14, played Mary and Joseph during the expedition around the Choate campus, with a chorus from the Spanish Community singing.

“I do one every year in Central Park,” said Choate Chaplain Andrew O’Connor, who came up with the idea to hold the event on the Choate campus. “I think this helps give a little more awareness to immigrants among us and social justice while celebrating Christmas.”

O’Connor, a priest at Holy Family Church in the Bronx, was happy with the turnout for the first Wallingford posada, even if the rain scrubbed the original plans to use a real donkey and incorporate SCOW’s mariachi band.

The expedition started at the Bungalow building on campus serving as Nazareth, where Joseph tells his wife they must travel to the city of his birth after receiving a notice about the census. The two prepare for the journey while nearly 50 people following them began to sing in Spanish.

To instill some fun into the posada, the script contained several modern references while holding loosely true to the story in the Bible. For instance, when Joseph presented himself at an inn in Bethlehem (the North and South House), instead of being simply told there was no room, he was told he would have to go through campus security and a full body search to stay at the inn. The group moved on to the next inn.

After also finding no room at the Archbold House, the group moved on to the inn at Nichols House, a real Choate dorm. Freshman Eloise Stanton, 15, was surprised by the group but played along, telling them there was no room.

“It was so nice,” Stanton said. “I was pretty surprised.”

Finally at Memorial House, the group was told they could use a stable off to the side of the building. All sang some more songs and then brought out tamales for everyone to eat.

Maria Harlow, director of SCOW, said the growing partnership with Choate has been rewarding. She said O’Connor really helped to make everyone feel comfortable and get involved.

“It was the first time, but a great experience for the families and children,” Harlow said. “I hope we can do it every year and it gets bigger and better.”

The Choate students seemed to enjoy it as well, stopping by to have tamales with the Spanish community after the walk around campus. “I thought it was quite exciting. It’s something different,” McClure said after taking off her Mary costume and joining the rest of the group.

The day had plenty of celebrations for SCOW, whose members came to the posada right after a special service at Holy Trinity Church celebrating Our Lady of Guadalupe.

“This was kind of closing out the day. It’s been great,” Harlow said.

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