‘Tis the season for pumpkin carving, but in Senorita Occhiogroso’s Spanish classes this time-honored American tradition has been replaced with a tradition from across the pond: decorating a sweet potato. The tradition originates from the region of Cataluna in Spain.
Spanish students have met the competition for most decorative sweet potatoes with mixed emotions. Senior Shira Buchsbaum says, “It’s interesting to learn more about the traditions of different regions of my home country. My family is not from Cataluna so it’s always exciting to learn more about the diversity of cultures in Spain.” Many look forward to the opportunity to express their creative side, while others are a bit less enthusiastic about arts and crafts.
The sweet potato decorations can range from Justin Bieber sweet potatoes to detailed set designs of a sweet potato that doubles as a mineworker. For some reason, sweet potatoes seem to have a greater comedic range than pumpkins, adding to the excitement of the classroom competition.
Students commend Señorita for adding to the holiday spirit in a unique way that still teaches students about the culture they are studying.