Junior Megan Rohrer sings during a madrigals practice. Photo by Charu Srivastava
With the holidays approaching, everyone is getting ready to enjoy the holiday spirit.
With this spirit comes traditions and Palo Alto High School is no exception. Its traditions include Play in a Day, the Madrigal feast and a post-finals snack of hot chocolate.
PLAY IN A DAY
Play in a Day is an annual event on the first Friday and Saturday of Winter Break.
“Paly alumni, current students, and a few teachers gather together to put on plays that are written, directed and acted by participants,” says junior Julia Kwasnick, who has participated in Play in a Day for the past two years. “The plays are written the night before Play in a Day takes place, and then we spend the entire next day practicing.”
Each group rehearses in a different area of Paly and gets two slots of time during the day where they can rehearse on the stage.
“You really bond through Play in a Day because you’re forced to hang out for an entire day so it’s a great way to make new friends,” Kwasnick says, adding, “I like how you don’t need to be a “theater person” to do Play in a Day, it is a great way to be involved in the Paly theater community without having to commit to too much time.”
MADRIGAL FEAST
The Madrigal Feast, put on by the Paly Choir, happens in December and costs $15 for students and $40 for parents.
“I love performing for anyone, so I love the performance aspect of it,” junior Marcus Edholm says. “The people I have talked to who have seen it have enjoyed the food as well as the music.”
Everyone in choir participates and wears costumes from the Tudor period to enhance authenticity.
POST FINAL HOT CHOCOLATE
A final Paly holiday tradition is hot chocolate on the quad after finals.
“This is something I started last year,” Associated Student Body President and senior Jessica Tam says. “I thought it was a good way to decompress after finals.”
When finals are over, relaxing with hot chocolate and friends is the perfect way to start Winter Break.
“It’s nice because maybe you’re super stressed after finals,” Tam says. “It’s a good way to say you survived.”