The holidays are coming up pretty fast and soon. I know that you all have your own holiday traditions. I’m going to be talking about my holiday traditions. When it comes to holiday traditions, most people have a mindset of shopping, football, parties, parades and sales. Sadly, the truth is that many holidays are becoming more commercialized and commercialized holidays are jeopardizing people’s traditions.
Traditions are crucial to have in our culture. They represent a critical piece in our lives. They help form the structure of our families and society and remind us that we are part of a history that defines our past, shapes who we are today and who we are likely to become. Nowadays, it is not like that anymore. People don’t treat American traditions or their own family traditions with respect and emphasis like they did years ago. The meaning of traditions are the values that unite us. Once they are internalized, they affect the normal day-to-day things that we consider our actions.
I have three holiday traditions that I cherish. These three holiday traditions are Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years. Each of them are unique and different. I enjoy doing these traditions every year. I hope I will be able to do them for a long time and pass them on to my kids in the future. It would be nice for my own children to have these types of holiday traditions and pass them on to their children.
Thanksgiving is my first important holiday. Every year on Thanksgiving, I either have family come to my house or I go to their house. It is nice to have family over for Thanksgiving. While dinner is being made, we hang out with each other and talk about anything. We also listen to music and dance. Every single time we get to the table when dinner is ready, we pray and say what we are thankful for before we start to eat the food. I do this every year whether I have a lot of family members at my house or I am with my mom, my younger brother and my dad.
Christmas is my second important holiday. Every year on Christmas Eve, my cousin will have a Christmas party. I will go to her house and be at the party with my other family members. We have a good time at the party. Throughout the party, everyone talks to each other and eats food. Towards the end of the party, we exchange gifts to each other. Then on Christmas Day, my parents, my younger brother and I wake up early in the morning and exchange our gifts that are under our Christmas tree. After we open our presents, we have a family breakfast at our house.
New Years is my last, but certainly not least important holiday. Every year on New Year’s Eve, I am at my house and listening to music. Although, there’s a new tradition that I started to do in high school. My friend and I would call each other on New Year’s Eve and talk until midnight. On New Year’s Day, I would text and call my family to say Happy New Year to them.
About Zoe Hernandez: Zoe lives in Meriden, Connecticut. A Quantum® brand ambassador, Zoe attends Abilities Expos and speaks with people about her disability. She is currently enrolled in college and hopes to work in a community one day with people who are just like her. Click here to learn more about Zoe.