As Christmas spirit fills the halls, Upper School students and their exchange students embrace the holiday season and learn about celebrations.  The Sacred Heart Network Exchange program fosters cultural exchange, inviting students from around the globe to spend time at Sacred Heart Greenwich.  This holiday season, sophomore Camilla Pazzmino and her exchange student, Claudia Biernet, from Barcelona, Spain, offered glimpses into their contrasting Christmas traditions. 

Claudia, a sophomore at Sagrat Cor Sarrià in Catalonia, Barcelona, stayed with Camilla’s family for two weeks.  She arrived October 23 and returned to Spain December 2.  She discussed her unique holiday traditions in Barcelona, such as Caga Tío and San Esteban (St. Stephen’s Day). 

“On December 24, we have a big dinner as a family, and on the 26th, we celebrate San Esteban and pay tribute to the Three Kings,” Claudia said.  “My favorite tradition in school is Caga Tío, where the students carve a face on a tree log and add wooden limbs and a red cape.  For four days before Christmas, we feed the log.  Then, on the 24th, we sing carols and hit the tree log with a stick, and it ‘brings’ presents for the children.”

The Spanish celebrate Christmas Day with festive meals, caroling, and age-old traditions, including Caga Tío, El Pessebre (Nativity Scenes), and Misa del Gallo (Midnight Mass).  On Christmas Eve, the Spanish also have a special meal called San Esteban, where they share foods like canelons, a staple of traditional Catalan cuisine.  Unique to Catalonia, San Esteban traces its origins to the region’s historical ties to the Carolingian Empire in the ninth century.  Catalonia’s connection to Charlemagne’s realm and the bishopric of Narbonne sets it apart from other parts of Spain, according to culturapopular.com. 

Meanwhile, Camilla emphasized the importance of family time during the holidays.  She shared her cherished Christmas traditions.

“On the 24th, my family and I usually go to my grandmother’s house and participate in a Secret Santa gift exchange with my cousins,” Camilla said.  “On Christmas morning, we open presents together, and in the evening, we have a big family Christmas dinner.  My favorite Sacred Heart Christmas tradition is the day before Christmas break when the whole school gathers in the gym, and the seniors dress up as angels to sing “The Twelve Days of Christmas,” which truly captures the close-knit community and shared Christmas spirit throughout all the grades.”

Featured Image by Maggie Heffernan ’25