It’s that time of year again where streets and homes are strung up with Christmas lights and decorated with Christmas trees, wreaths, and candy canes.  Christmas traditions are one of the many reasons people look forward to the holiday season.  Every family has their own special and unique Christmas traditions.  Some common traditions include opening one present on Christmas Eve, drinking hot chocolate and reading Christmas stories, caroling the neighborhood, or watching a favorite Christmas movie.  

Sophomore Cambry Miller’s favorite Christmas tradition is watching A Christmas Story and going to church at midnight.  “I like going to church because we get to light candles and sing Christmas songs,” Miller said.  

English teacher Rachelle Lipp said, “On Christmas Eve my uncle comes to our house and we all exchange gifts and watch National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation.”  Her family also puts a fake squirrel in their Christmas tree in honor of a scene in that movie.  Lipp’s dad has since bought all of his children fake squirrels to put in their own trees.  

Junior Gavin Nichols and sophomore Noah Rutherford both enjoy the tradition of receiving and opening Christmas presents.  Nichols said he likes presents because he likes getting “stuff.”

Math teacher Sheila Hayden said her favorite tradition is when her older sister and her sneak out on Christmas Eve, ring the doorbell, and sing as off key Christmas carols as they possibly can.  “We’ve done this since we were in high school,” Hayden said.  

Junior Cheyenne Elliott looks forward to making cookies and watching Christmas movies during the holiday season.  Her favorite Christmas movie is “Grandma Got Ran Over by a Reindeer.”  Juniors Jessica Williams and Tomma Jessen both enjoy decorating their Christmas tree. Jessen said they put up their tree the day after Thanksgiving.  

Whatever the tradition is, students and teachers gleefully await the holiday season to partake in their favorite Christmas memories.