As winter break approaches, the hallways are filled with more than just excitement for time off. Students are getting ready to celebrate a wide variety of holidays that reflect their families, cultures and traditions. From decorating trees and lighting candles to sharing festive meals or excitement in the new year, everyone has their own way of marking the season. Together, these traditions highlight the diversity within the student body and show how many different ways a community celebrates the same season.
Throughout this time of year many students are getting ready for Christmas, a widely celebrated cultural holiday with traditions that include decorating trees, exchanging gifts and spending time with family.
Junior at Lambert, Mariana Morales Franco, celebrates Christmas through her religious community. Morales Franco is a leader in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) at Lambert and she leads worship every Thursday.
“I usually go to mass the day before Christmas for the church event,” Morales Franco explained. “We have a special service where they go over the story of Jesus Christ and there is usually singing and dancing.”
At Lambert, FCA is hosting a special huddle for Christmas before break. Usually, huddles consist of worship, snacks and games, however, FCA has put a twist on it for the holidays.
“They are going to pass out hot chocolate and there will be a guest speaker from Northpoint,” Morales Franco said. “We’re going to have Christmas games, worship and donuts.”
The holidays consist of many other celebrations such as Hanukkak. Hanukkah is a Jewish Holiday that has been practiced for over 2,000 years and is an 8 day long celebration.
Freshman Lexi Shanks and her family are Jewish and celebrate Hanukkah in the month of December. They practice different traditions and come together during the holiday season.
“My grandparents come over to our house and my brother and I light our menorahs and sing,” Shanks explained. “Then we will usually have lockies and play dreidel.”
Jewish people also attend the Synagogue during the holiday of Hanukkah.
“Sometimes we’ll go to a Friday night service, depending on when Hanukkah falls, so singing with the candle just ties in,” Shanks stated.
With the holiday season coming up, cheer fills the halls at Lambert. Students of all religions are getting ready to celebrate with their families, whether they are lighting their menorah or sitting under the Christmas tree.
