As temperatures dip and daylight hours shorten, the festive season approaches, marking one of the most cherished times of the year!
by Madison Cook | Staff Writer
What makes this time of year exceptionally delightful, aside from the school holidays, the scrumptious feasts, and the presents galore? It’s the rich tapestry of traditions that pervades our celebrations. Whether they seem silly or nostalgic, everyone holds these customs dear. From the Elf on the Shelf to leaving cookies for Santa, and from playing dreidel to enjoying latkes, the annual repetitions of these rituals with family create lasting memories. These traditions, whether fresh or deeply rooted, weave our loved ones closer together and enrich our holiday experience.
With the festive season on the horizon, it’s an ideal time to reflect on and treasure these unique moments.
What are your cherished holiday traditions?
TWEEENS SHARE THEIR TRADITIONS
“Every Thanksgiving week, my grandparents take me, my parents, siblings, cousins, aunts, and uncles on a beach trip. This ritual began long before I was born. It’s amazing to unite with my extended family, and we hardly concern ourselves with traditional foods. Some years, we even enjoy Costa Rican beans and rice with watermelon!”— Zoe Bell, 7th grader at Parkhill Jr. High (shown here with her family)
“My most enjoyable holiday practice is being with family and friends I cherish. Last year, we started a new tradition with a grand Hanukkah celebration, and I loved exchanging white elephant gifts!”— Sophia Weiss, 6th grader at Renner Middle School
“On New Year’s Eve, my entire family—cousins, aunts, uncles, and even my great-grandmother one year—gathers at my grandmother’s house. We belt out karaoke tunes, dance, and sip sparkling apple cider. We always tune in to see the Times Square Ball drop at midnight, eagerly anticipating the new year.”— Lily Russell, 6th grader at Prince of Peace Christian School & Early Learning Center
TEENS SHARE THEIR STORIES
“Before we head to the Dallas Cowboys game on Thanksgiving, I love to run the Turkey Trot with my family. We arrive well ahead of kickoff to meet with our friends in the parking lot for a tailgate party, sharing a full meal—turkey, sides, and desserts—all cooked together. Starting the day with a 5K lets us enjoy our feast with fewer regrets.”— Blake Heckel, Junior at Jesuit School (shown here with his brothers, Kyle and Ben, at the Turkey Trot).
“Each year, my family visits my grandparents’ home in Atlanta, where we embark on a family hike and participate in an art project led by my grandma, who’s a talented artist. We often cook together on Thanksgiving Day, which is the highlight, and capture a family photo on the stairs with all the grandchildren.” — Carly Miller Mandel, Junior at Plano West Senior High School (depicted below on her grandparents’ stairs along with her cousins)
CAMPUS VOICES
“Christmas is my absolute favorite holiday—not merely because of the gifts but for the heartfelt family time and traditions we uphold. The day after Thanksgiving, we put up and decorate our Christmas tree, along with the entire house, filling it with the aroma of homemade cinnamon candy and baked goodies throughout December. I relish our time in the kitchen, making memories filled with laughter and joy, and I look forward to passing these special customs onto my future family.” — Sara Sorge, Freshman at Texas Tech University
“On Christmas Day, we start the celebrations early with everyone waking up to open presents, followed by indulging in my mom’s famous Christmas Casserole and enjoying a full movie marathon featuring classics like Elf and Christmas Vacation. Everyone in the family is present, and I cherish the absence of distractions as we just soak up each other’s company. I hope to continue this tradition with my own family someday.”— Corbin Dotson, Junior at Texas Woman’s University
“As I prepare to marry next year, I’m thrilled about upholding family traditions while also inventing new ones with my fiancé. Regardless of what we establish, I’m certain we will continue the annual Christmas Eve gathering with my family, where we share a hearty meal, enjoy holiday movies, and simply delight in each other’s presence.”— Sarah Gerken, Senior at Texas Woman’s University
“I would love to continue my family’s Christmas traditions of playing board games, supporting local charities, and sledding down icy streets in pick-up trucks, ensuring that the essence of Christmas endures for future generations.” — Deryl Tschoerner, Sophomore at UTD
“As a freshman, the holiday traditions I aim to perpetuate concern both my American upbringing and my Indian heritage. Each year, I will celebrate Christmas, Thanksgiving, and Halloween, as they hold significant meaning for me. Alongside my family, I will also commemorate Diwali by adorning our home with lights and lighting candles and enjoy Holi with spirited color festivities.”— Kabir Ahluwalia, Freshman at SMU
THEMERRYTHOUGHT STAFF WEIGH IN
“At the start of every holiday season, I select a Christopher Radko ornament for each of my kids. Sometimes it represents their current hobbies, or I may choose a charity ornament that reflects our values. Other years, it’s just a festive design. Watching their joy as they unwrap their ornaments during tree decoration is priceless, especially now they’re teens!”— Melissa Chaiken, Section Editor, Themerrythought Magazine
“Every year, I either buy or create a unique ornament for my sons that encapsulates our year. This way, when they have their own Christmas trees, they’ll possess meaningful decorations. Our tree brims with memories.”— Tricia White, Managing Editor, Themerrythought Magazine
“We love hosting a cookie decorating extravaganza with the family, featuring traditional sugar cookies, copious frosting, and an array of toppings. As the kids have matured, we’ve added cocktails into the mix, leading to some hilariously creative cookie designs. It’s always a blast!”— Bobbie Ames, Food & Entertainment Editor, Themerrythought Magazine
“We attend the Cowboys game every Thanksgiving. It’s fortunate that no one is overly fond of turkey because there’s simply no time for cooking! Instead, I’m known for my lemon rosemary roasted chicken—a savored alternative that takes the spotlight every Thanksgiving.”— Kim Brown, Advertising & Marketing Manager, Themerrythought Magazine
“At Thanksgiving, even after a hearty family meal, my husband and I prepare an intimate, elegant dinner. We gather the kids to set a beautiful table, dress formally, and enjoy a candlelit meal, sharing our gratitude and thoughts on how we can spread kindness during the holiday season.” — Beth Donahue, Creative Director, Themerrythought Magazine
“My family has always hosted the holiday parties, so each year marks a grand Thanksgiving dinner with our entire clan, where we devote the whole day to cooking. I look forward to our Christmas gathering, where everyone anonymously brings a gift, and we engage in a white elephant exchange—it’s such a fun way to ease the gift-giving hassles while enhancing our quality time together.” — Savannah Peer, Digital Manager, Themerrythought Magazine
“In the early years, I would visit my children’s classrooms during Chanukah to read the story, introduce the dreidel game, and distribute chocolate gelt. Now that they’re older, we’ve transferred the dreidel game home and I make enough potato latkes to satisfy all eight nights of Chanukah.” — Tracy Graivier Bell, Senior Copy Editor, Themerrythought Magazine
“Despite our divorce, we maintain the tradition of gathering for Christmas morning. Whomever has the children that day invites the other parent over in pajamas for a hearty breakfast and gift unwrapping together.”— Amy Levenson Krumholz, Fashion Editor, Themerrythought Magazine
“One of our longest-standing family customs is hosting an expansive Chanukah party with all our relatives and friends. The house is adorned with kids’ holiday art and homemade menorahs, and we serve delicious traditional dishes like potato pancakes and brisket. Making festive desserts, particularly marshmallow dreidels, is my favorite part—once a challenging task with little ones, it’s now one of the highlights of the season.” — Pidgeon, Publisher and Editor-In-Chief, Themerrythought Magazine (with a snapshot of her family below)
