STUDENTS RELATE HOLIDAY TRADITIONS

By John Oehl

My favorite Christmas memory is putting up the Christmas tree every year. I like this so much because it symbolizes that Christmas is coming soon. I really love putting all the ornaments on, and it is a time when the whole family is working together on a great thing. I really like walking into a room and seeing it. It makes me feel great and all warm inside. That is what I always remember about Christmas.

By Mary Brooks

My favorite Christmas memory is from the last Christmas I spent with my dad. It was the Christmas of '88, and I was 6. I was dying to get the red Barbie Ferrari that had just come out in the stores, and I begged Dad to buy it for me. Well, I had opened all of my presents and I thought I didn't get it. But then, dad came down the stairs with another present. He handed it to me, and said, "I know you've been dying to get this, so I got it for you." I opened it, and it was the Barbie Ferrari I wanted. I was so excited that I started to jump up and down and scream. Well, it's been seven years and I still have the old thing. It sits up in the attic with all of my other toys, collecting dust. Even though I'll never play with it again, I'd never get rid of it (even if my life depended on it).

By Jamie Teague

My favorite Christmas memory would have to be when I was between the ages of 2 and 8. My uncle always dressed up as Santa Claus. The first time that he dressed up I didn't know it was him. When he came inside of the house I was upstairs getting my mom's Christmas present. Well, when I came back down he was in my mom's chair. I thought he was a robber and I started to scream! He thought I was hurt and came over to me and picked me up. My mom came running into the living room and asked me what was wrong. My uncle finally figured out what was wrong and he took of the beard and mustache, and I finally stopped screaming. That is my favorite Christmas memory.

By Andrea Penland

My favorite Christmas memory would have to be getting ready for Christmas and putting up decorations. I have always loved putting up Christmas lights on the tree, the house, and all the windows. I also like to look at the lights on all the other houses. One year I went to Sikeston with my friend Arika. Her Grandma had a couple of elves in her yard that moved. Another house has some reindeer in a car running over a grandma. They had a radio playing "Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer." Because of these reasons I'd have to say I like Christmas decorations.

By Bridgette Birk

My favorite Christmas memory was when I was in the "Nutcracker." I got to perform with the Saint Louis Ballet and the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra. I was in fifth grade and I got out of school early every day for three weeks so I could go up to St. Louis for rehearsals. After rehearsals we'd come back home. I usually got back at around midnight. I danced the part of a soldier. It was a thrilling experience and I'll never forget it.

By Arika Lucy

My favorite memory of Christmas is when we pulled out the big Christmas tree and all of the ornaments. We have two trees, one for ornaments we have made, and the other for ornaments we have bought. It was always fun to look at the ornaments we've made from kindergarten and first grade. For example, when my brother and I were in kindergarten we did the thing where you put your hand in plaster and make your handprint. I have many memories of Christmas, but this is my favorite.

By Joe Niswonger

My favorite Christmas was the Christmas when I got a Nerf bow and arrow. I was 9 years old at the time. That bow and arrow was so neat, I couldn't quit shooting it. I shot my parents with it all over the house. It did not hurt them because it was not sharp, it was soft. I played war enemy games with it. I also shot my sister with it. That was my favorite Christmas.

By Kandra Baker

My favorite Christmas memory was one of the last Christmases that I spent with my grandfather Bill Baker. You see, my grandpa had been diagnosed with cancer earlier that year. We knew that it was terminal, so every minute we spent with him was special. On Christmas Eve, it is always Baker family tradition to go to my grandma's house to have dinner, exchange gifts, and do the things that families do. That night, my whole family was there. After we had eaten dinner and exchanged gifts, my Grandpa decided that he wanted to do something just for the grandchildren. Grandpa loaded all eight of us into my cousin's van and drove us to the County Park to see the Christmas decorations. My grandpa died a year later. I will always have memories of him, but that Christmas will remain in my heart and mind forever. Thanks Grandpa!

By Jamie Pierce

My favorite Christmas memory occurred when I was just beginning to question the fact that Santa was real. Traditionally, on Christmas Eve my family and I went to look at the Christmas decorations and lights. That year my father drove around longer than usual and my brother started complaining. My father agreed that almost two hours was long enough to see the lights. When we got home, I went to take my coat to my room and, coming back, I noticed the Christmas tree lights were on. Looking closer, I saw all the presents stacked under the tree. I began screaming, "Santa came! Santa came!" I was so excited. We unwrapped all our presents that night. I now know it was only my parents' way of stretching my belief for one more year and that Santa was really my grandparents, but for me it was a great Christmas.