Students around the school celebrate numerous different traditions during this holiday season, along the lines of Christmas, Kwanzaa, Hanukkah etc. Holidays are meant to gather people with their loved ones to enjoy the year that has come and gone. Each of us here at LOHSrepresent this in a different way. This time of the year is important for acknowledging our differences and celebrating in our own unique ways. 

Starting off we have Christmas, a holiday rooted in the Christian religion. It is the birth of Jesus but has evolved and expanded to even those who aren’t religious. The holiday is commemorated with a green pine tree in which ornaments are hung and each family has a different approach to this tradition. Some go for the coordinated theme and some let their creative freedom and expression take priority. Christmas typically begins in the early morning of Dec. 25 but celebrating with little kids usually means your day starts earlier because of the built up excitement. When the first person wakes up, the events commence. There is the giving of gifts from both loved ones and traditionally Santa or Saint Nick. After breakfast is eaten, the day continues and a feast is had that night to begin the celebration and to give thanks for the gifts you received that morning. 

Kwanzaa is a holiday to celebrate African American and Pan-Africans culture. The holiday consists of a celebration from Dec. 26 through Jan. 1. On the sixth day there is a communal feast that is called Karamu, and on this special day you can choose to participate in a home observation or a communal observation. At this event there is prayer, libation to honor ancestors, readings and the eating of various different dishes from the African cultures.  Each of the seven nights is focused on a different Nguzo Saba, which are the seven principles of Kwanzaa, and on each night there is a candle lit as well as a discussion of that night’s principle. 

We’ve then got Hanukkah, the Jewish holiday celebrating the rededication of the second temple of Jerusalem. This holiday is an eight night ceremony in which a candle is lit each night on the menorah to reaffirm the beliefs and ideals of Judaism. During the lighting, which takes place after sun down, there is the reciting of prayer and singing songs. While Hanukkah is taking place, there is no meat and dairy mixing during a meal as well as no pork or shellfish allowed. 

Finally, bringing us all together, we have New Years. A day in which we celebrate the coming of a New Year, a fresh start and the conclusion of a long year full of love, laughter and many unique experiences.There are so many things to celebrate during this time of year and we hope all students at LOHS have a wonderful time.