In the days leading up to the long-awaited Winter break, STA’s students plan for their time off. Most plan to spend time with their families and friends and celebrate traditions that have been passed down for generations. Whatever they may choose to do, Winter break is clearly building excitement in STA’s students.
The morning of December 25th, many students are excited to receive gifts from friends and family. To celebrate the Christmas season, Freshman Marvin Zephirin says, “Every Christmas Eve I have a Christmas dinner and stay up until 12 AM to open presents. During this time, I also watch Christmas movies with my family.” Most importantly, Christmas Day celebrates the birth of Jesus and the incarnation of God as part of his Salvation for humanity. For this, we gather together to celebrate such a wonderful time of love and forgiveness of all.
While many are prepping for the coming of Christmas, others are excited over the many other holidays there are to celebrate. Whether it’s honoring ancestors for Kwanzaa or lighting the candles for Hanukkah, many are ready to come together to celebrate these wonderful holidays that can only be experienced once a year. This excitement and suspense builds as the days until winter break countdown until it is finally here.
Hanukkah is a winter celebration that lasts eight days. It marks the rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem. One of the most well-known Hanukkah traditions is the lighting of the candles on the menorah. The menorah features eight candles, one for each day the oil miraculously kept the candles in the temple burning all those years ago. The most common foods eaten during Hanukkah include latkes, which are delicious fried potato pancakes; kugel, which is a sweet casserole; and brisket, which is a type of beef. Families gather around to celebrate this holiday and make each moment extra special. To make Hanukkah a special holiday in her home, Newspaper and Theater Teacher Mrs. Garrard says, “My son crafts a homemade menorah each year out of playdoh.”
Kwanzaa is an African American holiday that starts on December 26. This special holiday provides friends and family a chance to gather together to share a feast and good times together. African American meals are typically prepared for this holiday. These foods include collard greens, jollof rice, and African Peanut Stew. During Kwanzaa, people recite the writings of famous Black authors and listen to music of the African American culture. Unlike many holidays, the gifts given during Kwanzaa are homemade and sentimental rather than store-bought.
After this warming season of love and happiness, people around the world turn up the excitement as the new year approaches. New Year’s Eve and Chinese New Year is a time of celebrating new beginnings and the bettering of one’s character. New Year’s is celebrated in places around the world; one common tradition is staying up until midnight while watching fireworks to welcome everyone into the new year. While there are many people who celebrate Chinese New Years, it is commonly celebrated in China, South Korea, Vietnam, and places with a large Chinese population, according to the National Museum of Asian Art. People gather for family reunions in new clothes while watching fireworks and awaiting the iconic dragon and lion dance. Dancers wear costumes and mimic the movements of a dragon to chase away evil spirits and welcome prosperous times.
All of these celebrations provide a time for everyone to gather with the people they love most and to share and make countless memories during these times. No matter what holiday is celebrated, a warm feeling of comfort, love, and happiness will hopefully warm the soul of any person. Our STA family cannot wait to celebrate these days off of school, but will continue to make these days ahead just as impactful as those over break!