STRIPES

Stripes asked students to share their favorite family traditions.  Here’s what they said:

A tradition my family created was movie night. Every Friday we pick a new movie to watch. My family members are huge fans of movies and TV shows so we decided to do this so we can spend more time together as a family. Sometimes instead of watching a movie on Friday, we might go to the theater on the weekend. Spiderman: No Way Home is coming out soon so we have already made some plans to go see it in theaters. We don’t watch every show and movie together but when Marvel or D.C. movies and shows come out, we take time to always watch them together. –Vanessa Amfo-Ayeh

My father and I would visit the antique store often, especially during the winter. We first visited the antique store a few years back during the winter when I was a freshman, and ever since, we would go there frequently. We became well acquainted with the owner and considered them as family. So when winter comes by, it reminds us of when we first found this place, as it always brings us joy looking around for new trinkets to collect. — Marializ Guzman

My family doesn’t call Thanksgiving “Thanksgiving”. We instead, mourn and eat in remembrance of the 52 million Native Americans that were murdered by colonizers. As Puerto Ricans who only came to the States in the 1940s, we don’t feel any connection to a day that took place centuries before we called America our home, especially since it was during a mass genocide. — Isabella Sanchez

In many homes, Christmas is about coming together as a family and spending time with each other. This is especially important in my family because it is my grandfather’s birthday. Every Christmas we arrive at my grandparents’ house at around noon and spend the majority of the day with them. We watch movies together, we prepare meals, we open gifts, and we get to share stories. Ever since I was young, I have always been the one to hand out the presents and to this day it’s still my favorite part. Despite the minor issues we may have as a family, that day is not for arguing. It is meant to be a joyful holiday where we celebrate Christmas and my loving grandfather. –Yanery Jaquez

As someone who celebrates both Christmas and Hanukkah, the holiday season is always filled with a blend of culture and traditions. When Hanukkah comes around, my grandma usually hosts a brunch, or dinner, at her place. Brisket, latkes, bagels, and other typical Jewish dishes are found on the table while my family catches up on lost time. Every night we light the menorah in the kitchen and attempt not to burn the house down. On Christmas Day, we open our presents under the tree and then go to the movies. We’ve never had a large feast for dinner like most families do; instead, we eat Chinese food (which is typically a Jewish tradition). Although I may be more in touch with my Jewish side, I’m fortunate I’ve been able to celebrate both important holidays and experience the fun traditions that go along with them.– Arden Gonzalez

My family tradition with my mom for the holiday season is that on the drive home from the family Thanksgiving party, we always listen to Christmas music and sing along. It always makes me really happy because it’s a fun, silly thing that my mom and I can do together that helps me get excited about winter. We always look forward to it, so much so that my mom and I make sure to not listen to any Christmas music before then to make it more special.– Bethany Trimble

My favorite holiday and family tradition is Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday and I like it the most because it is about being thankful for all you have received. I also like eating the Thanksgiving food because it is delicious. The best part about Thanksgiving is getting to be with my family. — Conor Donegan

My favorite holiday I would say has to be Thanksgiving. For as long as I can remember we would all wake up in the morning to the Macy’s Thanksgiving parade and everything cooked and resting on the dinner table. This has to be my favorite tradition. Usually, most families would wait till nighttime to have Thanksgiving dinner, but in my house, we do it in the morning. We all wake up at 2 am and start cooking so that by the time the parade starts we can begin eating. Once the parade is over and we finish eating, the dog show comes on and we all sit together and just watch it together along with follow-up movies for the rest of the day.– Isabella Tomazic

Every year on Christmas Eve, my whole family gets together and has a huge celebration. In my family, we celebrate Christmas on Christmas Eve. We do a big fish dinner. We watch movies, laugh, play games, and open gifts. Even though gifts aren’t the main point of us celebrating, it is just how we show we care and the way we like to celebrate others. My favorite part of the whole night is that we get to stay up until midnight, so every year we start Christmas off with the people we love and care most about. This to me is the whole meaning and the whole point of Christmas. –Emma Villiarola

Christmas brings everyone together for the holidays. There is a reason Christmas is the most advertised holiday of the year. This holiday brings joy to families. Kids struggle to sleep the night before because of how excited they are. I know for myself, I could barely sleep. Christmas is the best time of the year. — Aidan Zarcaro

My favorite family tradition is the holiday of Christmas. I get to hang out with my family and see them happy when they open their gifts while sitting by the fire with my sister, mom, dad, and Justin (my sister’s boyfriend). I love putting a smile on their face when they open their presents and sitting by the fire watching movies and hanging out with them all day. Then I love seeing my friends happy as well when they open their presents and get what they asked for. I also love opening presents and getting the stuff I’ve always wanted, needed, or that is really important to me. — John Sullivan

I wake up on December 24th. It’s early in the morning, about 7 A.M. to be precise. As I head towards the door, I can already hear the pots and pans clanging downstairs. My mom is getting ready to start making her specialty. Salvadoran Tamales. As I open the door the sweet and savory smell of homemade tamale sauce fills my nostrils. I head downstairs and I see a plethora of ingredients on the countertop. There are banana leaves, potatoes, green beans, bottles of pickled vegetables, and lots of meat. I also see the giant pot filled with the dough for the tamales. My body fills with excitement, and just like that, I am ready to start helping. My mom cooks the meat while I open the cans and bottles of preserved vegetables, and I also get the cooked potatoes and green beans. I put all the ingredients in their own bowl and line them up, then my favorite part: toasting the banana leaves. The smell of the toasted banana leaves fills every inch of the house, and honestly, I could smell that aroma forever. After toasting them, we cut them into the perfect size for one tamale, and finally, we are ready to begin. By the time all this is done it’s already after 2 P.M.; my mom is great at making tamales, but I never said she was fast at it. She makes them while I roll them. There are so many different kinds, chicken, pork, meatless, and of course, my special ones with things that only I like. She makes them until all the dough is finished and we are left with a mountain of tamales. Now it’s about 9 at night, and we are exhausted, but the task is done and it will all be worth it when we get to devour them for the next few weeks. After we clean up we watch the Spanish channel Univision until we get too tired to keep our eyes open. It has been a good day, but now it’s an even better night, It’s Noche Buena. –Gustavo Paz

Every year around Christmas time, we make Kruschiki, a polish cookie.  We make these to honor my great-grandmother, who didn’t make them, but she loved to eat them.  They are small pieces of dough that get fried, and then topped with a lot of powdered sugar, kind of like a bite-sized funnel cake.  Making these in honor of her makes us feel connected to her even after her death, and makes eating dessert a little more special each year.  — Gillian Walker