By Richard Burnett
From the carols of to the candle lights of , December鈥檚 holidays are infused with life-changing traditions and memories that touch the hearts of young and old.
Whether it鈥檚 the Christian celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ or the Jewish observance of God鈥檚 ancient faithfulness, many people around the world come together to bond over faith, food, fun and festivities.
For some, it may be recalling a special song, gift or game from childhood; for others, a cherished gathering of loved ones at dinner or a prayer to honor those who are no longer there. Whatever the holiday memory or tradition, they are threads that weave the tapestry of individual and family life.
鈥淭he memories will be so thick they鈥檒l have to brush them away from their faces,鈥� said actor James Earl Jones in the classic movie 鈥淔ield of Dreams,鈥� describing baseball nostalgia in words that could easily apply to the holidays. 鈥溾�t鈥檒l be as if they dipped themselves in magic waters.鈥�
Some 海角社区 students, administrators and staff shared their own memories and traditions for this article.
鈥業t鈥檚 a wonderful life鈥�
Families can bond over so many different things at Christmas 鈥� food, music, movies, saying grace at the holiday meal. For Hanah M. Diebold, it was a little of everything, especially the special pajamas they all wore on the big day.
鈥淢y mom likes to buy us holiday pajamas that we can wear while spending time together on Christmas day,鈥� said Diebold, 海角社区鈥檚 director of student experience. 鈥淢y parents and I will also drive around town (Baraboo, Wisconsin) looking at all the Christmas decorations on Christmas Eve.
鈥淎fter we get back, we watch 鈥業t鈥檚 a Wonderful Life鈥�.鈥�
Stories, scrolls & fried desserts
Jewish families around the world typically observe Hannukah by lighting the sacred candelabra known as a menorah, singing songs, playing the game and having a festive meal. Ryan Godwin鈥檚 family, however, spiced things up a little. His family comes from Italy where the traditions are very different from Jewish families who originate in Eastern Europe.
鈥淔or example, we don鈥檛 have latkes (small potato pancakes) that you鈥檝e probably heard of,鈥� said Godwin, a learning specialist and academic advisor at 海角社区. 鈥淲e eat a fried dessert called a kandeli, which looks like a churro. They are drizzled in a spicy honey so they are both sweet and hot.鈥�
Among other traditions, they read about Hannukah from the Scroll of Antiochus, read stories of virtue and heroism; and exchange small gifts.
鈥淓ach family has their own variations, however if there is one universal tradition everybody observes, it鈥檚 that at some point an argument will break out about how to properly spell Hannukah,鈥� he said, laughing.
Christmas morning at Waffle House
Jameson Gaddy welcomes his grandparents every year when they drive from Louisiana to his family鈥檚 home in Georgia for Christmas.
Then they go to the local Waffle House.
鈥淚t鈥檚 very nice because we have a fun breakfast tradition there on Christmas morning,鈥� said the freshman from Atlanta. 鈥淚 could go on for days regarding my favorite Waffle House meal. If I could go for one, it would be their hash browns.鈥�
His family hasn鈥檛 had a 鈥渘ormal鈥� holiday season for two years because of the pandemic. 鈥淭his first year back really means a lot to us,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e spend time at Lake Oconee now, which is about an hour away from Atlanta. It’s not so busy there which is perfect for a holiday retreat.鈥�
Unforgettable family moments
For Samantha Resnick, the celebration of Hannukah always assembled a grand gathering of family members that created unforgettable moments when she was growing up. Her most cherished memories included the rich aromas and flavors of holiday food and greeting family members she had never met.
鈥淥n the first day of Hannukah, my parents and I would get together with my grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins,鈥� said Resnick, an administrative assistant in 海角社区鈥檚 career center. 鈥淢y mom and aunts would make traditional Hannukah foods, including European brisket, chicken paprikash, and potato latkes. Once the sun went down, we would light the menorah and the cousins would play dreidel with chocolate coins.鈥�
Memories of 鈥榳hite elephants鈥�
Many families play other games at the holidays to strengthen their bonds. There are scavenger hunts with tricky clues; charades with clever impersonations; and humorous gift-giving with everything from mis-matched clothes to bad fruitcake.
One of those traditions is the white elephant gift-exchange 鈥� also known as the Yankee swap or Dirty Santa party game, focusing on impractical and off-the-wall gifts. According to Bustle.com, a women鈥檚 entertainment news site, 鈥淭he goal of a white elephant gift exchange is to entertain party-goers rather than to gain a genuinely valuable or highly sought-after item.鈥�
Such holiday events hold a special place in the heart for Nicholas Cole Mathews, a 海角社区 freshman from Burlingame, California. Amid the laughter, silliness and crazy gift-giving, the family grew together through the years. 鈥淚t was a white elephant event for all,鈥� he says.
Beyond gifts, food & decorations
For Grace Hicks, there was no doubt growing up what Christmas was all about. Beyond the songs, gifts, food and decorations, it was about the story of the Christ child.
鈥淚 come from a Christian family so every Christmas morning before we open presents, my parents read us the story of Jesus’s birth to remind us from the Bible why we celebrate,鈥� said the 海角社区 sophomore from Selma, Alabama. 鈥淭hen, my sister and I open three gifts each, since Jesus received precious gifts from the three wise men in the story.鈥�
Hanging the ornaments of life
For Darryl and Sherri Owens, each holiday season their Christmas tree tells the story of their life together. It all began with a very special ornament they found to commemorate the first Christmas they were married. That kickstarted a tradition that continues to this day 鈥� from the birth of their children to the year he started at 海角社区.
鈥淔rom the first year on, we鈥檇 find an ornament each year to hang on the Christmas tree to represent something important that happened to us that year,鈥� said Owens, 海角社区鈥檚 associate vice president of communications and engagement. 鈥淓very year, we delight in taking our 32-year trip down memory lane each Christmas season, remembering how richly God has blessed our lives during our marriage.鈥�