Some remember a white Christmas or opening presents while others remember traveling to Grandma and Grandpa’s house or lighting the menorah.
Regardless of what you remember, holiday memories and traditions overflow everyone’s minds during the holiday season.
The most common remembrances and traditions during the holiday seasons regularly include opening presents on Christmas morning, the traditional family dinners or saying prayers while lighting the menorah.
Now more modern traditions are recognized in homes around the country.
These newer traditions such as traveling, splitting the holiday dinners between two families or even eating out at a restaurant are just as common as the singing of carols and saying prayers.
Splitting the holiday celebrations between two families is very common during this time. Whether it is a divorced marriage or two sets of grandparents, going to one house at a certain point and then visiting the other half of the family at another house is not unusual.
Sophomore English communications major, Sabina DeGisi said, “We head over to my Grandmas at 11 o’clock [on Christmas morning] for brunch and open some more presents. In the afternoon, we usually visit my dad’s side of the family and hang out with them.”
Another aspect within the holiday traditions to consider these days is the celebration of two different holidays.
For example, holidays such as Hanukkah and Christmas are commonly seen celebrated under the same roof during the holiday season.
The reasons for the celebration of both holidays may vary according to each household but it is clear that new holiday traditions are taking the place of some older traditions.
Back when Hanukkah was originated and when Christmas was first observed, both a Christmas tree and a menorah would never be seen in the same household.
A family coming together is what the holiday season is known for. Traditions during the holiday season involve the whole family, which is what makes the moment and traditions so special.
Whether it is cooking dinner together, singing carols on Christmas, or playing dreidel during Hanukkah, the traditions are being passed on through generations.
Sophomore undeclared major, Molly Kearney says, “my family and I always bake cookies on Christmas Eve with my aunt and her kids.”
As the holidays approach, the holiday traditions arrive to our minds once again.
From the very start of the holidays and even today, traditions stay alive throughout families.
Whether the ritual changes to adapt to how the family has changed or whether the traditions have not changed at all, families are always celebrating, remembering and observing throughout the world.
