Families Put Own Twist On Holiday Fun

Jill May
12.20.07

Traditional holiday customs usually consist of decorating a Christmas tree, lighting candles or simply enjoying time with family.

However, some students add their own twist to ordinary traditions.

“Every year my family hides a pickle on the tree and the first one to find it on Christmas morning gets a prize,” freshman Rebecca Conrad said. “It’s just something we’ve always done.”

“Hiding the pickle” is a German tradition in which parents hide a pickle ornament deep within the branches of the tree. The most observant child receives a prize from St. Nicholas.

Families are revamping holiday meals as well.

“My family always has donuts and hot chocolate,” junior Mike Pettigrew said. “I don’t know why, but we always have.”

Students have disregarded the traditional Christmas ham as well.

“On Christmas Eve at my house we have oyster stew,” junior Jennifer Ellis said. “My grandma has made it ever since my stepdad was little.”

While other families make gingerbread houses and sugar cookies, the Kelletts celebrate their ancestry by baking Norwegian cookies.

“They are called futimun,” sophomore Miles Kellett said. “My family is Norwegian so we make them every year around Christmas time. They are basically deep0 fried and covered in powdered sugar.”

After the meal, there are many other festivities to experience. 

“My family and some friends go caroling around the neighborhood,” Kellett said. “It’s a lot of fun.”
When it’s time for gifts, families create their own customs.

“We open our presents at midnight on Christmas,” junior Chris Cruz said. “Every year we stay up all night and finally go to bed around 4 a.m.”

 Some families have special traditions to focus on children.

“When we open presents, we all walk into the room in reverse birth order so the little kids can see the presents first,” junior Andrew Nelson said. “It’s really nice to see their excitement.”

Students celebrate old holidays in new ways. Whether it be decorations, food, caroling or presents, the holidays are a time for tradition.