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MarLo Huffington

Ms. Huffington's Christmas tree. Isn't it pretty?!

Christmas traditions: the one thing each family can fully customize to be their own for the holiday season. The good thing about traditions is that each one gets to be unique. They differ from family to family. This is what makes them so interesting. How many of the students and staff here at Palestine High School have their own family traditions? We got to talk to a handful of individuals about their own personal traditions. 

A few people’s Christmas traditions start on Christmas Eve. Halle Piper says, “We have Bobes pizza every Christmas Eve.” Makinley Bonesteel’s family unwraps new pajamas every Christmas Eve. Chance Wilber’s family also has Christmas Eve traditions. He says, “We go to my grandparents for Christmas Eve and then they come over on Christmas morning for breakfast.” 

Krescene Holscher’s family goes to Vincennes to attend Christmas Eve Mass and celebrate Christmas with the Holschers. Ms. Huffington said, “I have added two traditions that have become sacred to me, attending a Christmas Eve service and watching A Christmas Carol before going to bed.” These traditions were something that she started in her adult life, and she has grown to hold them very close to her heart. This just goes to show that traditions may not always stay the same; change may not be a bad thing. 

Food and baking are big traditions for a lot of people. Mr. Logan said that one of his family’s biggest Christmas traditions is, “A full day of baking.” It started with their love of baking as kids. They loved it then and they still love it now. It’s just become a tradition in his family as a result. Halle Piper’s family does an annual cookie and ornament exchange. Ms. Huffington’s favorite Christmas food is Swiss Treats. She tries to eat her favorite treat every year. She cannot even place the first taste of the cherry dessert, but they quickly became a favorite. Ms. Huffington stated that they are especially tasty when they are made by her mom. 

What about stockings? Does everyone do stockings? Again, this is something that can be personalized family to family; not every family does it the same. Kaden McCormack is in charge of the stockings in his house, and he said, “I stuff as much junk in them as I can.” While Kaden stuffs his stockings to the brim, Mr. Logan does the exact opposite. Mr. Logan doesn’t do stockings at all. Ms. Huffington is a lover of stockings. She said, “Stockings are still my absolute favorite part of Christmas! I will be sad if one day, there are no stockings out.”

What kind of traditions does your family have? Let us know in the comments below!