The Christmas Lantern — Version for children aged 13 to 15 years

 

The Christmas Lantern — Version for children aged 13 to 15 years 

December slowed the town of San Jacinto. Not because of the lights, but because people seemed more aware of one another.

The lantern in the square had been restored that year. Anyone could place a wish inside—no names, no explanations.

Luna stood in line with her grandmother, watching impatience ripple through the crowd. She felt it too. The cold, the waiting, the quiet pressure to move faster.

Ahead of her, a younger child struggled to write. The pencil scratched faintly. A pause stretched longer than expected.

Luna considered stepping forward. It would be easy.

Instead, she stayed where she was.

She handed over her pencil and held the silence. The child wrote slowly, carefully, as if time itself had softened.

When the lantern lit up, the light didn’t promise anything extraordinary. It simply stayed on.

Luna understood that some gestures don’t shine loudly—but they remain.

 

Activities

Value explored: Respect at Christmas
Create a “wish lantern” at home or in the classroom where each child writes something to share, practicing taking turns and listening.

Key learning: Recognizing others, their pace, and their needs.

Questions for discussion:

• How did Luna feel while waiting?

• What might have happened if she hadn’t done so?

• When does respecting someone change a situation?

Optional activity:

Create a “wish lantern” at home or in the classroom where each child writes something to share, practicing turn-taking and listening.