There are many holidays that people celebrate throughout the year. People will celebrate certain holidays because of many reasons, like their religion, or simply because it is what they have always celebrated growing up. People may celebrate different holidays around this time of year.

“I celebrate Christmas, but not because of any religious reason,” senior Chantz Taliaferro said. “I celebrate it because that’s just how it’s always been.”

Junior Hayden Sillmon also does not celebrate Christmas for any religious reason.

“My family has never not celebrated Christmas,” Sillmon said. “By now it’s just natural since it’s always been there.”

Sophomore Sarah Wyse celebrates Christmas because it’s a tradition in America, so her family has always done it.

Senior Kaylee Dreher celebrates Christmas because it’s another way for her to spend time with family.

Junior Brandi Ecker celebrates Christmas because it’s something her family has always done.

“There is a little bit of religious reason that our family celebrates Christmas,” Ecker said. “But it’s just with our church, and at church Christmas is always about Jesus. But for our family it’s not all about the church things.”

There are many students who celebrate the holidays they do because it is just something to celebrate, but there are also students who do it because of their religious beliefs.

“My family and I celebrate Christmas because of the birth of Christ,” sophomore Olivia Phillips said.

Junior Rachelle Lumpkins also celebrates Christmas because of her religion.

“I celebrate Christmas even though it’s not the official day Christ was born, but because it’s the day we celebrate Christ’s birth,” Lumpkins said. “It’s easy to get wrapped up in gifts though, we need to remember that Christmas is to celebrate Jesus.”

No matter what the reason students celebrate the holiday they do is, there is something to look forward to the holiday they celebrate for all of them.

“I really enjoy Christmas because I get to see all of my family,” Sillmon said.

Wyse’s favorite part of the holiday season is putting up her Christmas tree.

“My favorite part about the holidays is no school, for sure,” Taliaferro said.

Dreher enjoys the food the most around the holidays.

“My favorite part about Christmas is being able to see my parents’ faces as they unwrap the gifts I worked hard on for them,” Lumpkins said.

Though these students enjoy the holidays they celebrate, some would still celebrate different ones if given the opportunity.

“I would celebrate different holidays other than Christmas just to understand different cultures and ideas that go with the other holidays,” Wyse said.

Sillmon would not celebrate any other holidays other than the ones he already celebrates because he does not enjoy change.

Ecker would also not celebrate anything else because by now she is used to celebrating Christmas.

“I would definitely celebrate another holiday, like Hanukah, because I’m not defined by one religion,” Lumpkins said. “If I had friends that were Jewish I would celebrate with them, it’d be nice to learn about a different culture. I’d also like to go to a Christmas mass, even though that’s Catholic, just to experience it. I’m not only going to celebrate Christmas just because I am a Christian.”

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