Students from Sacred Heart schools across the world connect and learn about diverse cultures through the Network Exchange Program. During the holiday season, students and their exchange students learn about each other’s Christmas customs at both school and home. Exchange students Francesca Tartaglia, Sveva Tracia, and Emma Lievre from Rome, Italy, and Clementine Bulmer from Auckland, New Zealand shared their Christmas traditions.
Sveva is a student at Sacro Cuore in Rome, Italy, and she is spending three weeks with sophomore Mia Ritossa and her family. She looks forward to grasping the system of American schools and learning about American customs. Every year on Christmas Eve, Sveva and her family and friends go to the Vatican to visit the Pope and to reflect on the meaning of the holiday season. Sveva cherishes this time because she is able to surround herself with good people and honor God. Sveva commented on how Italian Christmas traditions continue until January 6 for the celebration of Epiphany.
“One of the most important Christmas traditions in Italy is the celebration of Epiphany,” Sveva said. “Epiphany is when a good witch named ‘Befana’ brings all of the children in Italy sweet treats and gifts.”
Another student at Sacro Cuore, Francesca, is staying with sophomore Katya Kalinchenko and her family for three weeks. Francesca traditionally celebrates Christmas with her family by enjoying a feast of Italy’s traditional Christmas food like pandoro, panettone, and tortellini in brodo. Every year, Sacro Cuore hosts a student-led gift sale where all the proceeds are donations. Francesca reflected on her school’s tradition of providing for those in need during the holiday season.
“Each group organizes a table where people put the toys, books, and clothes that they have not been using and sell them to friends at school,” Francesca said. “The money each person receives from the sale is given to the school and donated to many different organizations that help people in need. The sale is significant to me because I can become more involved in strengthening the community.”
Emma attends Sacro Cuore and resides in Rome, Italy. She is living with sophomore Chloe Forte and her family until December 17. Emma’s favorite Christmas custom is the celebration on the final day of classes before break. There are no classes on this day, so students are free to depart before lunch. This time serves as preparation for the final farewell before the break, and Emma enjoys spending this afternoon with her classmates, shopping, and going out to lunch. Emma and her family’s Christmas tradition is to host a big dinner on Christmas Eve to take part in the holiday festivities because she and her family spend most of Christmas day traveling. Emma discussed her vacation in Tuscany and the importance of spending the holidays with loved ones.
“Every year on Christmas day, my family and I travel to Tuscany to visit my aunt and cousins,” Emma said. “Since I am usually not able to see my extended family due to where we live, I cherish this time catching up, playing board games, and laughing with my entire family.”
Clementine is a rising junior who attends Baradene in Auckland, New Zealand. During her time in the United States, Clementine first stayed with junior Aitana Ross. She is now living with junior Ava Clear and her family for the rest of her stay. Since Clementine has only experienced Christmas in a summer environment, she eagerly awaits to observe the holiday decorations and participate in New York City festive activities. Some of her Christmas traditions consist of visits to the beach and barbecues with her family. One of her school’s traditions is to host a Christmas Mass that celebrates the holiday season and the end of the school year. Clementine reflected on the impact the Christmas Mass has on her upcoming holiday celebrations and summer break.
“The Christmas Mass has impacted me throughout the years because it makes me more excited for the holidays due to all of the Christmas carols sung during the Mass,” Clementine said. “The Mass is bittersweet because I can get into the Christmas spirit and advance to an older grade, but I am also sad because I watch all of my senior friends leave the Baradene community.”
Featured Image by Ava Briganti ’25
