As many Park students are getting ready to celebrate various holidays over winter break, Spanish Club members are learning about Latino religious customs.

According to adviser Marcus Erickson, the club is doing activities related to hispanic Christmas traditions.

“We did an organizational meeting at the beginning with them (and) some videos with some cultural information,” Erickson said. “We did have a movie showing with professor and this (meeting) is our Christmas in Mexico, Christmas in the south west themed event.”       

Club member Aaron Stulberg said the group is making religious luminaries as a way of studying latino Christmas traditions.

“(We are making) lantern bags (called) luminaries,” Stulberg said. “(Their purpose is to) light the way for dead people.”    

Erickson said he hopes to incorporate student leadership in the near future.

“I am not sure but I think we will have some students who might be joining us to do some more leadership,” Erickson said.

Erickson said he hopes the activities will give members a way to extend their language education beyond the normal curriculum.

“It gives students a chance to do something with Spanish outside of the classroom; to learn a lot more about the cultures of the Spanish speaking world,” Erickson said. “Also to broaden the horizons through the cultural piece.”