Here at GLAA, we’re only hours away from Christmas Break, which means we’re only days away from Christmas! The feeling on campus is filled with anticipation. The twinkling lights hanging in many of the windows here on campus are just a small reminder that we’ll be home in just a matter of days. We’re all a little punchy from staying up too late to study for finals, and we’re all a little too excited to get home to start our family celebrations.
In the anticipation to go home, there has been a lot of talk about family traditions. Since we have students from all over the world, the family traditions are as varied as a box of Christmas cookies. When I asked some of my fellow students how they celebrate, here are some of their answers:
Students from Peru, El Salvador, Chile, Panama and Mexico stay up late on Christmas Eve. Many of them wait until midnight to open their gifts. Some of their favorite foods are rice and beans, pupusas, tamales, lomo saltado, and a fruit cake (that “tastes much better than the American version”).
Alex, from Nigeria loves eating mori mori and his dad’s famous red sauce. They also have American traditions, such as watching “White Christmas” and opening gifts on Christmas morning.
Naomi’s family is from Romania. When they visit their family back home, they go caroling and get cookies from the neighbors. At midnight, they go home and eat their cookies together as a family. They also put boots out a few days before Christmas, and find treats in them in the morning.
Our American students enjoy activities such as ice skating, skiing, watching Christmas movies, singing karaoke, shaking gifts under the tree to try to guess the contents, and driving around to look at Christmas lights. They eat everything from homemade pizza to oatmeal banana splits.
A favorite tradition from several of the students is to gather with their families and read the story of Jesus’ birth in Luke 2. We’ve all heard it, but it’s a great reminder of the real reason for this happy season. Regardless of where your family is from, or how they celebrate the holidays, Jesus and His gift to each of us should be the central focus in all of our homes – not just during the holiday season, but all year.
From the GLAA family to your family,
Merry Christmas!
Great Lakes Adventist Academy 