Christmas is a worldwide holiday celebrated on the 25th of December every year to honor the birth of Jesus Christ, but it’s celebrated differently in every household. Christmas in America is filled with traditions, old and new. Some date back to 16th-century Germany or even ancient Greek times, while others have been introduced in modern times. Christmas traditions vary globally, from Japan’s KFC feasts and Iceland’s mischievous Yule Lads leaving treats or rotten potatoes, to Venezuela’s roller-skating churchgoers, Colombia’s candle-lit nights, and Italy’s witch-like La Befana delivering gifts on Epiphany. One thing all of these traditions have in common is they all have unique cultural spins on holiday cheer, family, and faith. Popular festivities around the holidays include exchanging gifts, decorating Christmas trees, attending church, sharing meals with family and friends, and, most notably, waiting for Santa Claus to arrive; however, every family is different from the next, and Carmen Rivera Cano (10) celebrates Christmas with her family.
“[I spend it with] my entire family if I’m being honest. For example, this Christmas is going to be at my aunt’s house, we’re going to meet there, and we’re going to do just our usual stuff,” said Cano.
Spending Christmas with family strengthens bonds and creates lasting memories. Most families do this through shared traditions like cooking, games, watching movies, looking at lights, fostering connection, and belonging amidst holiday bustle. It’s a time to focus on quality interactions, express affection, and build shared history. Every family does different things when celebrating Christmas. Some play board games, open presents, and have large dinner parties. Others may go out to participate in community activities, like a parade or ice skating.
“We usually just go to each other’s houses, have a big dinner, and sometimes do secret santa,” said Cano.
Playing games with your family during the holidays is a lot of fun. Cano says that her and her family also play monopoly and watch cringy videos to see who reacts first, the loser having to eat a mystery jelly bean. Eating Christmas dinner with family is about creating connection, often featuring traditional roasts with classic sides, but can also involve fun, interactive dishes like festive pizzas, with planning ahead and sharing tasks key to a stress-free, joyful experience. Other than the mystery jelly beans, Cano has big dinners with her family.
“We have tamales, chachitos, rice, pork, chicken, steak; a lot of stuff like that,” said Cano.
Loads of food prepared and set for a large dinner brings families together, whether it’s cooking together or sharing stories while you eat. Many favorite dishes can come from bigger dinners, Cano saying that hers is cucumbers. Many other holidays take place around the time of Christmas. From Hanukkah to Kwanzaa and Yule, the month of December is full of all kinds of festivities and joyous activities. So for the holiday season, turn up your Christmas music and put on your ugly Christmas sweaters because it’s the most wonderful season of all in the words of Andy Williams. Happy holidays to all and have a wonderful new year!
Image: https://www.pexels.com/search/merry%20christmas/
