Sharing Cherished Christmas Traditions

Mia Hernandez, News Writer

Tradition is a custom that is passed down through generations or that is done time after time or year after year. Everyone celebrates different traditions that they have had in their family for who knows how long. Since Christmas is just around the corner, why not talk about different Christmas traditions. Like is one of your holiday traditions having a gingerbread house competition?

“A month before December, whoever is going to go to my grandma’s house for Christmas, we put their names in a bowl and draw names. Adults with adults, and 18 and below with kids. Whichever name you pull, you have to buy a gift for them, $30 the limit,” sophomore Riley Ramirez said. “Then we give them their gifts on Christmas Eve, we have fun with family, and eat dinner.” 

Does everyone go to their grandma’s house for Christmas? It seems like everyone does. I’ve never met someone who does not have grandchildren. I guess everyone loves their grandma’s house. 

Juniors Nick Ortiz and Aaron Saenz work on gingerbread houses.
Juniors Martha Tovar and Regan Scott compete against the other groups in the gingerbread house building challenge.

 

“Christmas Eve I spend it with my mom, then we spend Christmas day with my grandmas. With the family we play games like poker and loteria,” sophomore Iris Stricker said. “Sometimes on the day of Christmas, if my aunt is fed up with it, she will take the tree down that night, or we leave it up the whole year.”

Juniors David Gutierrez and D’Angelo Cardenas work on a Christmas project that includes building a gingerbread house using only candy canes as utensils to spread icing. (DHS Journalism)

I have never heard of someone taking down their tree, Christmas night. Usually, I hear other families take their tree down on the 6th of January, because it marks the day the three kings actually arrived in Bethlehem and signals the end of the Christmas celebration, this is what we do in my family. 

“We throw a party on Christmas eve, and we make homemade bunuelos, menudo, and tamales. We spend it with my family and give them their gifts. Christmas day to the theaters to watch a new movie with the close family, and we open presents that day, as well as playing games,” junior Martha Tovar said. 

Tis the season to enjoy homemade bunuelos, those are always a hit. Every family does Christmas differently, so it’s celebrated differently, or maybe you don’t celebrate Christmas and celebrate other holidays like; Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, or Las Posadas. I know everyone is counting down the minutes till Christmas, so hope you have a wonderful Christmas this year, and may your days be filled with merry and cheer!