Christmas is one of the most joyful and celebrated holidays around the world. Many celebrate by getting together with family and friends, going to mass, opening presents, watching holiday movies, cooking, and definitely eating.
There are also many unique cultural traditions that people incorporate into their seasonal celebrations. So, whether your family strictly follows cultural traditions or you’ve created new or hybrid traditions of your own, it’s fun to see different ways we celebrate this magical season.
41 randomly selected students were surveyed about their Christmas traditions. The Nazareth community is truly diverse with 13 different ethnic groups being identified in the survey. 34% of students identified as Irish, 29% as Italian, 17% as Polish and 14% as Mexican/Hispanic. Smaller percentages identified as African American, Asian, Czech, Danish, German, Greek, Norwegian, Serbian, and Puerto Rican.
Freshman Adriana Carpintero said, “We gather our whole family on Christmas Eve and eat the Mexican dish pozole every year along with opening gifts from aunts, uncles and cousins.”
Junior Liliana Baena’s family also enjoys the special Mexican stew (pozole) as well as other ethnic dishes. She said, “On Christmas Eve, we go to my Hispanic/Italian paternal grandparents’ house where we eat a Mexican dinner of pozole or tamales then dessert is an Italian dish: normally anise cookies or cannoli.”
Christmas in the Italian tradition typically also includes the Christmas Eve celebration of the Feast of Seven Fishes. According to Bon Appétit, “By definition, Feast of Seven Fishes menus feature distinct types of seafood—they needn’t be actual scales-and-fins fish, but they must come from the sea.” Junior Giovanni Cianci is familiar with the tradition. He said, “On Christmas Eve I eat tons of fish.”
Polish and Czech Senior, Elise Drda said, “We have a big family party on Christmas Eve with the whole extended family on my mom’s side. My dad and I make homemade pierogis and sauerkraut for our Christmas lunch or dinner.”
Junior Christian Malachuk’s Italian and Polish family makes dumplings the week before Christmas.
Even if it’s not known for being tasty, Freshman Grace Mogenson practices a fun Danish tradition. “When we visit my dad’s family, who are Danish, we eat [the traditional Danish Christmas dessert] risalamonde,” she said. “It’s a really disgusting pudding, but there is an almond hidden in there and whoever finds it gets a prize.”
Junior Ana Djurasovic is Serbian and her family follows a unique tradition, too. She said, “We bake a loaf of bread that has a coin in it. At the start of our Christmas meal, my family turns the bread three times and then rips it open; whoever gets the coin has good luck for the next year.”
Junior Alani Schwertfeger’s family incorporates a Puerto Rican-style egg nog into their menu during their holiday celebration. She said, “I celebrate Christmas with my family every year at my uncle’s house. We eat our favorite rice and ham and [drink] coquito.”
Freshman Kendall Leahy doesn’t note any specific ethnic traditions, but nonetheless, has fun with family during the holidays. She said, “I go up to Michigan with my family and we have a person come play the piano with all of the family in the room. Then, we usually have a talent show for the younger cousins.”
Some other fun traditions include what Junior Norah Cassidy’s family does. She said, “We leave out cheese for Santa mouse.” And Senior Lucy Jucovics said, “We always order Chinese food on Christmas Eve and we leave out cookies, carrots, and milk. We play games as a family, and exchange secret Santa gifts as well!”
Sophomore Esteban Toledo’s family starts their celebration earlier than most. He said, “Two days before Christmas, my entire family usually gets together to thank God for the life he’s given us and for the blessing of having a family who cares for each other.”
