Now that Thanksgiving and the hassle of Black Friday have passed, it’s time to ease into the joy of holidays and traditions celebrated in December.
Students in Hampton Bays High school have traditional celebrations of their own during the holidays. Senior Allison Sequiera and sophomore Layla Ovares, both of Costa Rican descent, celebrate Christmas on Christmas Eve. Every year Sequiera’s mom cooks traditional Costa Rican tamales and the family plays Secret Santa. Ovares’s mom makes Chifrijo which includes chicharrones, rice, beans, vegetables, and chips.
When junior Veronica Marin celebrates Christmas her uncle makes traditional Colombian buñelos to be paired with hot chocolate or coffee. Marin says she looks forward to, “Spending time with my family because it takes my mind off school.”
During Christmas senior Isabel Brady sets up the Nativity scene at her house and sings to baby Jesus while rocking on a chair to signify the birth of Jesus. After Christmas her family eats Rosca de Reyes, which is a Mexican traditional bread with a little baby inside that symbolizes the Christian faith of the newborn Messiah.
In addition to celebrating Christmas, senior Jordyn Heaney celebrates Hanukkah which is a Jewish festival. Hanukkah lasts eight nights and in 2023 began on December seventh. Each night Jordyn and her family light one of eight candles going from left to right on the menorah. Her grandparents make dishes like pierogi and matzo ball soup which she says are, “So good!” When she was younger she used to open presents on each day but as she grew older it has changed as they don’t open presents anymore.
As a Christmas tradition, Mrs. Barrett’s husband’s side of the family that lives in London do English crackers which are handcrafted poppers with an array of handcrafts inside once you pop them.
Celebrations around the holidays bring happiness and bliss in times of need and bring families together, regardless of how they are celebrated.
The Tide wishes the Hampton Bays community a safe and happy December break.
