Merry Mavericks

The holiday season is in full swing, and our Maverick community celebrates this time of the year in many different ways. Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, nothing, or something else entirely, this time of the year is always filled with a little more joy and thoughtfulness. As Alexis Groke, a senior, puts it, "My favorite part of the holiday season would be the familiar warm feeling of my family’s traditions. Everything seems to be a bit more peaceful and happy,"

"One of these traditions my family has is caroling to families in need and nursing homes, bringing the spirit of Christmas. Then after that, we go to my great aunts and uncles house for my favorite holiday treat, scones with honey and hot chocolate. The most special and unique tradition we have though is “spying on Santa”. All the cousins, the night before Christmas, dress in our new Christmas pajamas and make hiding spots with chairs, couches, and blankets. Then all of the cousins sleep in the basement and early in the morning when it’s still dark, the parents rush in saying they heard the reindeer’s hooves on the roof and we all rush to our hiding spots and watch Santa put our gifts under the tree and eat the cookies we left out for him. He talks about each of the kids, saying how good they have been and how proud he is. It’s so cute. It’s so fun seeing all the younger cousins get so excited. It’s a memorable experience and it adds a special magic to the kids holidays," said Groke.

Emma Heiser, a sophomore, celebrates Christmas. But she finds joy in different ways during the holiday season. "My favorite part of the holiday season is decorating the house and watching Christmas movies with friends. That's when I really know the holidays are getting started. I also like to bake different kinds of cookies and pass them out to different family members, friends, and neighbors," said Heiser.

Every family celebrates a little differently. Some bake cookies with friends while others hide pickle ornaments, and some even hire an Elvis impersonator.

It's also never to late to create a new tradition; many people find and add new traditions they enjoy every year, so the holidays grow for them over time.

"The past few years me and my friends started running the Jingle Bell 5k together. The money donated goes to charity, and it's so fun to walk around all the stands and listen to Christmas music after you finish the race," said Heiser.

The holiday season comes in all different shapes and sizes. It looks a little different in every country, every city, every town, and household. The thing that makes it so special is the people you surround yourself with during this time, and the things you do to make the holiday season for others a little bit brighter.