Winter break is near, and joy is in the air! Although every family celebrates the holidays in a different way, Christmas traditions have become staples in American culture. Nevertheless, holiday traditions vary greatly from household to household. The differences in holiday celebrations are apparent, even in a small survey of only Sparta’s sophomore class.
Jessica Fenners and Emily Opresnick share similar and more universally common Christmas traditions. “I personally go to my grandparents’ house on Christmas Eve and we decorate the tree together. Then the next morning, we eat pancakes and open presents,” says Jess.
“I used to sleep in my sister’s room and read ‘The Night Before Christmas.’ We usually get new PJs.” Emily adds, “Always start with the stockings!”
Christmas trees are the most common decoration pieces in Christmas-celebrating households, and the ongoing debate has remained for generations: real trees or fake trees? Some people, like Natalie Krudys, get to celebrate with both - a fake tree with her dad and a real tree with her mom. “My favorite ornament is a glass snowflake,” she notes.
Olivia Finkeldie has her own favorite ornament, and a sad story to go along with it. “My favorite ornament was the one I immediately broke after taking out - it was a glass Rudolph that I was so excited to hang up!”
It’s 2017, and the world has no shortage of Christmas movies for families to come together and watch. Ryan Ventresca and his family have an annual favorite. “Every year, my family and I watch ‘The Polar Express’ together in our living room. Great movie!”
Ande Wittenmeier has a unique tradition, dating back decades. “My mom saved all her notes from Santa, going back as far as the 1960s in a small Santa boot. We read them before Christmas and put our own new ones in the boot each year.”
Many students celebrate Hanukkah, like Jade Criso. “We go to my grandma’s, eat potato pancakes and donuts, and we pray,” she recounts, much like her classmates’ Christmas traditions.
Stay tuned to The Oracle for students who come from different cultures and have other traditions. Happy Holidays from all of us.
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