Ava Westbrook’s eyes were squinting to see through her glasses, her lips pursed as she hobbled onto the stage while clutching her back with one hand and a cane in the other. She joined the lines of her fellow tottering peers, all waiting to begin their dance. Everyone had canes in their hands – except for one broom – and were waiting to tap them to the beat.
MISSION BASILICA FIRST GRADE STUDENTS DON SWALLOWS COSTUMES IN PREPARATION FOR THE MARCH 19 RETURN OF THE SWALLOWS DAY AT MISSION SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO. PHOTO BY AMY BAGGS
“You guys need to be older!” called volunteer choreographer Anna Marquez from the front of the stage as she modeled the dance. “Be older! Box step!”
MISSION BASILICA STUDENTS CHOSEN FOR THE ROYAL COURT ARE SELECTED FOR ACADEMIC AND SPIRITUAL EXCELLENCE. PHOTO BY AMY BAGGS
The students at the Mission Basilica School have been helping their community of San Juan Capistrano celebrate the annual Return of the Swallows for the last 64 years.
Westbrook, 10, along with her fellow fourth graders were just pretending to be old, but there was nothing young about the tradition she was participating in; it goes back more than six decades.
The students at the Mission Basilica School have been helping their community of San Juan Capistrano celebrate the annual Return of the Swallows for the last 64 years. This year, the children performed on March 23 at the St. Joseph’s Day celebration at Mission San Juan Capistrano and then at the Swallows Day Parade with the community at large. The Return of the Swallows events celebrate the yearly 6,000-mile migration from Argentina.
As the story goes, Fr. John O’Sullivan invited the swallows to come to the Mission San Juan Capistrano around 100 years ago and said they would always be safe and welcome there. The swallows have returned each year since.
“For me, personally, seeing our students participate in the Swallows Day Parade reaffirms the importance of our school’s role in preserving and honoring our community’s traditions,” said the school’s principal, Alycia Beresford. “It is a reminder of the values we instill in our students – a sense of pride in their heritage, a commitment to service, and a dedication to making a positive difference in the world.”
For Mission Basilica students, they begin the tradition dressed as monks in kindergarten, then don colorful swallows costumes in first grade. Each grade level performs a dance to music traditional to the time of the Missions. But it is when students get to eighth grade that a select few are chosen to the Royal Court. Representing the Spanish nobility during the mission system’s founding in 1769, the Royal Court is crowned during the St. Joseph’s Day festivities and rides a float during the Swallows Day Parade.
The students at the Mission Basilica School have been helping their community of San Juan Capistrano celebrate the annual Return of the Swallows for the last 64 years. Eighth grader Raegan Elliott, 14, said she remembers being in first grade and thinking the Royal Court was so cool and an honor she wanted to strive toward. Elliot said she was overjoyed to be named this year’s queen.
“It’s an honor that you get to represent your school after putting in all the hard work over the years,” Elliott said. “You get to represent all your friends and your school. You’re just a role model for the other kids.”
Elliott is joined by Princesses Miranda Moreno, Michaela Shay and Savannah Francis; King Kaiden Boggs; and Princes Nathan Boyer, Anthony Magdaleno and Ryan O’Rourke.
Magdaleno, 13, said it is an amazing opportunity to be part of such a long-standing tradition. Being in the Royal Court – and their final year at Mission Basilica – also struck an emotional chord with both Magdaleno and Elliott.
“It’s like a recap seeing all the dances and remembering when we were in them,” said Magdaleno. “It brings back so many memories. I remember when I was there and I was nervous to dance in front of everyone, the huge crowd. It’s fun to remember.”
As the Royal Court and their eighth grade peers celebrated with their school for the final time, kindergarteners Lucy Caputo, 6, and Stephen Hamilton, 6, made their first Swallows Day memories as they joined their peers to sing, “Good Morning, Mr. Swallow.”
“I feel excited, but I’m also nervous at the same time,” said Caputo, the day before her first St. Joseph’s Day performance. “There’s going to be a big crowd.”