As the holiday season approaches, Grand Ledge High School students are reflecting on the unique traditions that make the holidays special to their families. From Christmas Eve rituals to festive family activities, these traditions highlight how the season brings people together.
For junior Maya Cool, the holiday season starts with the smell of pine. Her family has been picking out a real Christmas tree for 16 years, always heading to Reverman Farms to find the perfect one.
“What makes it special is that it’s a time where just my family and I can spend time together. A lot of people I know get fake trees, so it makes it special to my family,” Cool said.
The process of selecting and decorating the tree brings her family together in a way that feels unique to them.
Every family has a tradition or two that make the holiday season special, and for Amy Heriford, one of Grand Ledge’s math teachers, Christmas Eve is about staying active and embracing her faith.
Her family begins the day by lacing up their running shoes to participate in the Playmakers Holiday Classic 5k Run, an event that holds personal significance to the family.
“We run the Playmakers Holiday Classic 5k Run every Christmas Eve because my brother is one of the owners of Playmakers,” Heriford said.
After the race, the festivities continue with her family spending the rest of the night at their church where they have been going for years. Heriford notes that it is a great way to end the day with her family and friends.
Senior Katelyn Roberts’ holiday traditions center around Christmas Eve and Christmas morning. Every December 24th, she gathers at her uncle’s house to celebrate. Later that night, Roberts and her family bake sugar cookies for Santa, with The Polar Express playing in the background.
“Every Christmas morning, we eat cinnamon rolls before opening presents,” Roberts said.
She and her brother often wake up early, sneaking a look at the gifts under the tree before the rest of her family is awake. These moments are what make the holiday season special in her home.
For English teacher Jay Skeen, Christmas Eve always begins the same way: gathering with family to watch the movie, Annabelle’s Wish. It is a tradition that has been passed down since he was a child.
On Christmas morning, the traditions continue with a memorable dish.
“My mom has made sticky buns every year since I was a kid,” Skeen said. Now that he has a two-year-old son, Skeen’s values on Christmas have changed.
“It’s all about watching my son get his presents and seeing his excitement during Christmas. We even work out in our Christmas PJs,” Skeen said.
Most Grand Ledge High School students and staff can agree that traditions are about celebrating with our family and friends. As Maya Cool put it “It’s not the act of cutting down a tree and placing it in my living room that’s special, it’s the fact that I get to do it with my family every year that makes the tradition worth keeping alive.”
