`Tis the Season for all families to gather by the campfire and count down the days for Christmas day. Many people have a winter holiday they celebrate, my story will be focusing on Christmas. As the big day rolls around, I interviewed some people on what their Christmas day consisted of. Although no one I interviewed has started new traditions, each and everyone’s Christmas day looks different.
The three students I talked to had the same morning for the most part which is a guarantee: opening presents! Even if it consisted of a nice big breakfast first and then presents, presents never failed to be one of the first things every kid wants to do in the morning.
Alyssa Virkler, a sophomore at New Hartford High School, has a very family-oriented Christmas Eve and Christmas. Alyssa has a very big family and they are all very close. They love to all spend the holidays together and make it another great year together. Her mom and dad have a big Christmas Eve party with lots of family and friends to celebrate the night before Christmas.
“The holiday cheer is spread, everyone is so happy and has a wonderful time on Christmas Eve,” Alyssa stated. “We have a big dinner that consists of a variety of delicious foods.”
Christmas is Alyssa’s favorite holiday and she loves being around all her extended family. On the day of Christmas, her family opens presents early in the morning and then gets ready a couple of hours later to go to her grandma’s house with some of her close family to enjoy a big nicely cooked meal.
“On Christmas day we have a big dinner,”Alyssa stated. “Our family gathers around while a big steak is served with mashed potatoes, gravy and corn. There are always some extras that are put out on the side like salads and sometimes ham but my favorite food is steak.”
Alexandria O’Brien, a senior in high school, has a different looking Christmas. Every year her dad and sisters and her all go to Massoud’s tree farm and get a Christmas tree. The catch is they always go a week before Christmas. Once they pick out a good one as a family they sit in the living room, listen to some Christmas music and decorate the tree together.
“It is never intentional how late we get our tree,”Alexandria stated. ”It just always seems to happen the week before Christmas. I like that our family does that though, I wouldn’t want to do it any other way.”
Alexandria’s family has a big planned out breakfast to start their Christmas morning. They all eat together and enjoy the nice home cooked meal and then open presents afterwards. Later on they will enjoy a seafood dinner with some sides.
“We like to eat crab legs, shrimp, corn and mashed potatoes. Usually you would expect some steak or turkey, but my dad likes to have seafood because me and my sisters all love it,” O’Brien stated.
Grace North, a senior at high school, loves the holidays. Every year she decorates the tree with her grandma and her brother Ben before Christmas.
“On Christmas morning my grandma comes over and we have a delicious breakfast and open all of our presents together,” Grace stated. “It is always the best time.”
Once everyone in her household is satisfied with everything they got, her family a couple hours later gets ready for dinner at her grandma’s house. They usually have a Thanksgiving dinner menu for Christmas as well. The only difference at their dinner table is fish.
“Christmas is always an exciting time. Me and my family spend all day together and love spreading the holiday cheer,” Grace stated.
After all, Christmas may seem like it’s the same day for everyone. Usually, opening presents in the morning is the same, but everyone celebrates it differently. They do different things and activities. They have traditions that other people may not do.
Christmas isn’t just a holiday. It is a time to spend with family and watch movies and eat amazing food. If you celebrate Christmas, what does your family do on this special day?
