As the autumn and winter seasons come around, friends and family are finding the joy of nostalgia from coming together. Traditions are carried on and memories are shared with the people they love the most. Cozy gatherings and yummy meals are only a couple things that prove how the holiday seasons bring people closer together.
For many, the holidays are about being together and reconnecting with family and friends. Family traditions and friendly gatherings take on an important role during the holidays. The smell of the fresh fall air reminds people of Thanksgiving time, and the snow flurries that bring the Christmas spirit to light.
Amelia Dahms, sophomore at NVD, shares her excitement for the Christmas season.
“This time of year, I am very excited for Christmas, and ignoring Thanksgiving,” Dahms said.
Sophomore at NVD, Darienne Buckner shares her love of preparing for the two holidays she celebrates with friends and family.
“At this time, I am starting to celebrate Thanksgiving with my family, and eat the delicious food we make every year, and of course my favorite holiday, Christmas,” Buckner said.
The holiday season is special for everyone celebrating, all in different ways. The different ways people celebrate their holidays is what makes this time so special and unforgettable.
Ella Singh is a sophomore in high school who lives in Haworth NJ. She shares what makes the season special to her.
“For Diwali I get to see so much of my family and friends and it’s just a very important holiday to me as both a community holiday and religious one. I especially enjoy Thanksgiving because the day after my family has a tradition where we put up the Christmas tree which is very special every year. I love the Christmas spirit and every activity that has to do with it, and also Christmas break,” Singh said.
The gift of giving to one another is also what makes it a special time during the season.
“I get so excited to get presents and also give people presents because I think the spirit giving is the best part of the holiday season,” Dahms said.
The holidays are all about family, catching up and reconnecting with them after not seeing them for a while. Many feel anticipation and excitement as they wait to see their favorite family members for that special day–or if they’re lucky a couple of days.
“I feel like I can reconnect so much with the family on my mom’s side, because I love them and their presence so much,” Buckner said.
Family traditions are also a big part of the holiday season. Traditions could be celebrated for years, even decades and never change. But sometimes traditions grow and can even be made in the moment.
“We go to my cousin’s house on my mom’s side for Christmas every year, and for my family it’s never changed. We always seem to make the best memories and keep the traditions alive,” Buckner said.
Celebrating the holiday with friends shares a common theme: Friendsgiving. It is celebrated by mostly every friend group which can range from the lowest grades in elementary school to even college friends. Friendsgiving is a time to bond with peers outside of school, and really reconnect with them again.
Secret Santa and Friendsgiving never seems to fail to put a smile on someone’s face during the holiday season.
“We do secret Santa and other festive activities. I also like celebrating Friendsgiving with them because we each bring a dish or a sweet treat which I think is always fun and I love it,” Dahms said.
Secret Santa and giving gifts to friends is also a tradition that many people celebrate.
“We do holiday activities, like secret Santa and get each other presents,” Buckner said.
During this time of year, the holidays are what carry the season and bring so much good feeling to everyone around. Making unforgettable memories brings positive vibes and nice energy.
“Without the holidays people wouldn’t have anything to look forward to, and this time of year also makes the air around people fresher,” Singh said.
The holidays are all about presents but also presence, “I think they’re equally as important. Because the presents are part of the memories you make, but you’ll never forget who was in your presence,” Singh said.
Spending better quality time with loved ones can uplift people’s spirit and make them realize how grateful they are to have all these amazing people in their lives.
“I feel very grateful that I have them in my life, and feel very light hearted,” Dahms said.
