STUDENTS RELATE HOLIDAY TRADITIONS

By Derek J. Hale

Christmas of 1987 was the best of all Christmases. My grandfather had gotten me my first BB gun. Also that year we got snow. My mom had gotten me a skateboard with a matching sweatshirt. Later that day I went outside to try to ride my skateboard. To my excitement I discovered a rabbit hutch with two rabbits. One rabbit was mine. I named him Charlie. He was brown. Santa also left me two pigeons.

By Jenise Lichtenegger

I have a lot of Christmas memories, but this one is my favorite. When I was about 5 or 6, I got to be in the Christmas play at church. I was going to be an angel. I was very excited and a little nervous. I remember on that Christmas Eve, we set out cookies for Santa and went to church. My sister and I put on our angel costumes. We had the Christmas play and sang Christmas songs with all the other children. I remember that everyone in church clapped really loud. When we got home, our presents were under the Christmas tree. I got exactly what I wanted. I remember feeling very happy to have such a great Christmas.

By Marci Myrach

Christmas is a very special time of the year for me, but one Christmas stands alone. About four years ago, my mother made my dress. It was beautiful and has always been my favorite. When I wore it to church on Christmas Eve, I felt special and confident. When it was my turn to deliver my line, I said it with great emotion. That was the best by far that I'd ever done it! After church we all went to Grandma's house for a snack and presents. Our whole family ate, and then I got to help hand out gifts. It was truly amazing, standing there surrounded by presents on top of presents. I got some great gifts, but the best was still to come. After almost everyone had left, one of my aunts, two of my uncles, my dad and I all sat down to play Monopoly. Monopoly is one of my favorite board games. We played until well past midnight. It was the most fun I'd ever had on Christmas Eve. Ever since, we have made a tradition out of it. And every Christmas, I look forward to playing Monopoly.

By Andy Conklin

I'm so sneaky. I remember it as if it were yesterday. It was late Christmas Eve, or maybe early Christmas morning, I don't remember because I was too young to tell time. It wasn't unusual for me to get up during the night for a drink, but this night was different. I took a detour through the living room where our tree was. I peeked out the window and found that the Iowa snow hadn't failed me. It was halfway up the bushes and they were the same height as me. Then after making sure Santa was nowhere in sight or hearing range, I looked under the tree and saw exactly what I wanted, a He-Man sleeping bag. He was my hero! Then I heard a noise and scurried off to bed before I got caught.

By J.R. Boitnott

The memory I remember and the one that is my favorite would have to be the one where my two sisters and I would get into an argument over who got to put the star on top of the tree. In our house, it feels special if you were the one who got to rise above everyone and put the star on top. It seemed as though I never was chosen to put the star up but later, after everyone had left the room, I would get a chair, take the star off and put it back on. No one may have seen me but it felt special. So I guess that would be my favorite memory of Christmas.

By Abby Grossheider

Way back when I was but a child, I had the most wonderful Christmas. My younger brother disturbed my sleep as he scurried down the hall to the Christmas tree. Quietly and gently I followed him, so as not to disturb Mom or Dad. When I reached the Christmas tree, covered in lights and ribbon so much it glowed, I saw unbelievingly red, green, and blue packages. To make sure it was not a dream, I bent down and touched a package, two, three. Quietly, I went back to bed. Early that morning I awoke again as the sun was rising. Neal had Mom and Dad up. As we opened the gifts left by Santa I wished for snow. Just as the wrapping paper was put in the fire, the first snowflake fell, followed by another and another. They kept falling and falling. That year I got the gift I wanted most of all and memories of a lifetime.

By Kylie Crites

My favorite Christmas memory was when I was about 5 or 6. I woke up that Christmas morning and started to open my presents. When I heard a knock on the door, I went to open it but no one was there. I then looked down and saw a present on the porch. So I brought it inside and opened it. To my surprise there were two kittens in the box, but of course my brother got to have one of them. Since I was the oldest and my birthday was on Christmas I got to pick first. I picked the small white one and named it Angel. This was one of my favorite Christmas memories.