From attending midnight mass and lighting the candles on a menorah to eating a KFC dinner, people from all over the world celebrate holidays in many different ways. Here at Middle College High School (MCHS) students and teachers alike spend the winter season and winter break doing many different things.
Edward Valenzuela, the world history and video production teacher shared some of his favorite childhood memories during the holidays.
“There were special family things. People would come over when you were little and you got a lot of presents. We would go to church at night time, like the midnight mass, and our cousins would come over and we would set up the Christmas tree. Setting up the Christmas tree was a big deal. I don’t know how many years this happened, but we would all, quote, be asleep, and then my grandpa would come in and go, ‘Santa Claus came,’ and then we’d all go down the hallway. We would, every once in a while, go to other neighborhoods and look at the Christmas lights too. It’s different. When I was your age, we’d play football. We would watch football. We did a lot of football stuff. We’d ride our bikes all over the place,” Valenzuela said.
He also mentioned some of his favorite traditions and memories.
“I have to say my favorite memory, going back to midnight mass, is my grandma singing. One of the things we would do on New Year’s is we’d go outside and we’d get all the kitchen pots and pans and go and make a lot of noise. And then we tried, you know, to see if we could stay up all night, because we were allowed to,” Valenzuela said.
Senior Bianca Garcia also shared her favorite Christmas gift and things to do during winter break.
“I love to watch Christmas movies and bake! Winter break is usually when I get to rest after a long period of working consistently, so this means I get to do a lot of my favorite activities including reading, writing poetry, and cuddling with my cat. My favorite gift that I have ever received was my cat Georgie. I had wanted a cat for the longest time, and when my mom surprised me with her I was filled with tears. I was thrilled and was determined to fill her life with love. I got her as a Christmas gift and to this day she’s the best gift I’ve ever received,” Garcia said.
Along with catching up on sleep and hobbies, Garcia also enjoys spending time with her family on her favorite winter holiday, Christmas.
“My favorite holiday memory was celebrating my uncle’s birthday the same day as Christmas, because we got to see him blow out his candles right at midnight. I also have this tradition of being at my grandma’s house for Christmas, seeing all my family together, and opening all my gifts with my cousins. We would always eat tamales or menudo, and I would always be the first one to finish,” Garcia said.
Freshman Luis Eduardo Reyna also spends his winter break recharging and doing things that get him in the Christmas spirit.
“Things I tend to do on winter break include sleeping, playing video games, drawing, and enjoying foods like cookies and hot chocolate. I enjoy going to the mall to look at the Christmas decorations, watching Christmas movies, baking cookies, and earning money to buy gifts for my family and friends,” Reyna said.
For those who celebrate Christmas, a big part of the day is sitting down to eat dinner with our loved ones. Reyna shares how his family decides who brings the food to the gathering.
“My family always buys a rosca for Rosca de Reyes. Usually whoever ends up getting the baby ends up buying food instead of making it themselves though,” Reyna said.
Families that celebrate Christmas often decorate trees together, a big part of Christmas and an activity that can help create lifelong memories.
“My favorite holiday memories include setting up our Christmas tree and spending time with my family because they make me feel jolly,” Reyna said.
Winter holidays are celebrated in diverse ways, from decorating a Christmas tree with family and drinking a nice warm mug of hot chocolate, to sleeping in during the winter break and taking time to do something you love. The winter season and the holidays it brings help people create everlasting memories that help bring that special warmth during the cold months.
