Noëls Celebration Keeps Tradition Alive in Song

While many Convent & Stuart Hall traditions have changed over time, the annual Christmas Noëls celebration, which dates back to the Jackson Street campus, looks almost the same as it did 130 years ago.

Organized by grade, on the floor and parts of the elevated track of the Herbert Center gymnasium on December 16, K-12 students took turns singing holiday favorites in French, Latin, German, Spanish and Mandarin.

Watch highlights from the 130th annual Noëls celebration.

This tradition, unique to San Francisco's Sacred Heart students, began as a gift from the children to the Superior (title later changed to President), President Ann Marie Krejcarek explained to the students. "What this represents is a devotion and dedication to all of the different cultures that exist around the world and our entry into them through language," she added.

Before all attendees concluded the event with a boisterous singing of Jingle Bells, high school seniors added one more traditional touch: Standing on the mezzanine, the Convent senior class sang Noël de Notre-Dame, followed by a Latin rendition of O Come Let Us Adore Him by the Stuart Hall seniors.

Read more: A Convent senior reflects on her 12th Noëls celebration.

Watch: The full student-produced live steam is archived here.

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