Events around the world CHRISTMAS AROUND THE WORLD

Across the globe, Christmas is celebrated widely in various cultures through unique festivities and traditions. The holiday adds to the air of excitement that brings families together to share warmth and love amidst the snowy month of December. Regardless of the differences in celebration in every family, culture, and country, it’s the time of the year that everyone looks forward to. Although we have entered the new year of 2023, let’s take a moment to look back on the memories we had in 2022.

The moment winter break started, the Highland Family scattered throughout the country and even abroad, giving everyone a chance to regroup and share their unique experiences.

Aurora Gomez, a junior, had spent the holidays in Mexico where she spent the two weeks spending time with her relatives.

“In Mexican culture, Christmas is an enormous deal.Gomez said. “Every person in my family’s neighborhood has huge statues that are decorated.” day one, we only light one candle, let it burn out. And on day two, two candles would be lit , and burnt out. This is repeated everyday to mirror the way Jews had done in the past. When asked what Christmas, meant to her, Lelko responded that,“It’s a time I can get together with famil, and I like how it’s not really centered around gifts, just a miracle… It’s about family, and it’s about God. It’s important to me because of those things.” in a cozy setting and appreciating the birth of Jesus.”

”Christmas is all about loving everybody. What made this experience even more special was the “Pasadas’ that Gomez was able to take part in. This comes from Catholic roots. The family would carry statues of pilgrims, angels, and Virgin Mary and walk around the house.

Lillie Lelko, a senior, spent her Christmas celebrating Hanukkah instead. In the Jewish culture, they hold a week-long celebration commemorating the rededication of the building of the second temple. Lelko’s family spent their time together playing a traditional game called a dreidel, a game that consists of spinning a with four marked sides.

“Everyone puts an even number of chocolate coins and spins. If it lands on gimmel they take everything and everyone has to put one in. But if it lands on shin or hay, you take half from the pile. In the end, whoever takes all the chocolate coins wins. Then you get to eat them.”

The sweet victory is rewarded by chocolate gelt. Along with Hanukkah songs, there’s also the Hanukkah prayer. The oldest in the family or an honored guest typically reads the Hanukkah prayer, which opens up the lighting of candles on a menorah that is set facing the East, towards Jerusalem. Candles from left to right are chronologically lit day by day in a sequence. For example,

Alexandria Reid, a junior, was also able to spend winter break surrounded by family. She had actively helped prepare delicious dishes of traditional Caribbean food, such as oxtail, curry goat, roti bread, sorrel tea made with spices from hibiscus flowers, and more. If she could change anything about Christmas, Reid said, “After all the prepping, as a cook, it gets exhausting. So when the food is prepared, I don’t even feel hungry.”

Although delectable, it’s hard to ignore all the effort that goes into cooking for large family gatherings that can last for days. But family reunions are what makes Christmas so special, and all the fun family traditions that come with time. Alexandria shared her family tradition of videotaping Christmas intros every year.

“Every year we videotape our Christmas opening stuff and ever since I was a baby we’ve been videotaping. We always dress up. Me and my sister were elves, and mom was Mrs. Claus and dad was Santa Claus.”

Amidst the joy and the festivities of Christmas, Reid feels as though “It’s not about yourself,your gifts, but it’s spending time with your loved ones

Khumbula Msibi and Zion Kwon, both juniors, spent their Christmases in a very memorable way. Msibi spent his Christmas eating beans and his personal favorite, mac and cheese while,Kwon enjoyed eating ramen noodles under the sunny weather of Florida. Kwon said if he could’ve changed one thing about Christmas,“I want it to snow in Florida. There’s no snow in Florida.” While Msibi said “The idea of Santa.” .When asked what is the true meaning of Christmas, Msibi said, “(It’s the) birth of Jesus…a blessing to this world.”

The word Christmas holds different meanings and memories for everyone. It’s about seeing family. It’s about the birth of Jesus, it’s about sharing the blessing of being together, thankful and joyful as we remember the good times we carry into 2023.