At the Escuela Comunitaria David LaMotte, learning doesn’t happen only in the classroom. It also happens through music, stories, celebrations, and traditions passed down from one generation to the next.
This year, the school celebrated Guatemala’s Independence Day with a cultural celebration that gave students the opportunity to learn about and participate in some of the traditions of their community.
As the teachers explain, traditions are customs that communities preserve and pass from one generation to another. At the school, these celebrations are a way for children to learn about and appreciate their culture, including traditional clothing, music, dances, and customs. They are also a way of keeping their roots alive.
One of the dances featured in the celebration was the Deer Dance, or Danza del Venado, a traditional Maya dance found in several parts of Guatemala. The dance tells a story centered around the deer and the relationship between people, animals, and the natural world. Dancers often wear elaborate costumes and masks representing deer and other characters, accompanied by traditional music.
The Deer Dance is more than a colorful performance. Like many traditional dances in Guatemala, it carries stories and cultural knowledge that have been preserved over generations. Learning these dances gives children an opportunity to experience their heritage rather than simply hearing about it.
For the students at the David LaMotte School, celebrations like this one are part of growing up connected to their community and culture. They get to see their teachers and older community members honoring traditions, and then take part themselves.
That passing from one generation to the next is what keeps a tradition alive.
We are grateful to the teachers at the Escuela Comunitaria David LaMotte for creating these opportunities for their students, and to the children who bring so much enthusiasm to them. Their celebration was a reminder that education is about more than what happens in books and classrooms. It is also about knowing where you come from, valuing your community, and carrying its stories forward.