STUDENTS RELATE HOLIDAY TRADITIONS

Students at Cape girardeau and Jackson junior high schools wrote the following essays:By Melinda McLainIn my family, we have traditions to buy four gifts per family. Then my aunt puts numbers on the presents and numbers in a bucket. After that, everyone draws numbers. You get the present that matches your number. You have two choices. You can change presents with someone who has already opened theirs or open yours. But in order to trade with someone you cant open the present you got.By Justin ShelbyMy best Christmas Eve was when I was 3 years old. I asked for a dog all year long, but my mom and dad said we couldnt get one because they were too messy. After I had opened all my presents, I still hadnt got my puppy. When I went upstairs to put all my toys away, there was a little black and white puppy tied to the post of the railing. And that was the happiest Christmas ever.By Matthew GodseyI really havent had a favorite Christmas but every year they get better. The bad thing is that my birthday is the day after Christmas and I dont really have many things to ask for my birthday so I just get some of my Christmas presents on my birthday. But I usually get a lot of money. I usually get two presents from my aunts and uncles and grandparents or a present and money.By Ryan PekiosEvery other year we go to Iowa for Christmas and we get to open one present on Christmas Eve. A few years ago, we were in Springfield on the way to Iowa when in the hotel room overnight the tape lost its stickiness and all the presents came open. I got everything I wanted including roller blades and a Game Boy. That was my best Christmas ever.By Alyssa YarbroughWhen I was in first or second grade, my brother told me that there was no such thing as Santa Claus. Of course I didnt believe him. Late Christmas night he woke me up and took me to the landing of the steps. I saw my mom and stepdad setting up our bikes. I cried myself to sleep that night.By Collin GilesThe Christmas of 89 was the best because that was the Christmas I got exactly what I wanted. A few days before Christmas I went around looking for presents. I found a few things but not what I wanted which was a Nintendo and a BB gun. On Christmas Eve, there were presents under the tree. To check to see what I got, I opened them carefully but no Nintendo or BB gun. When Christmas came, I found under the tree a BB gun and a Nintendo.

By Michael CheungWhen I was 5 years old, I learned that Santa Claus does not exist. For two years I learned that Santa was a big fat man with a red suit and a beard. I waited all year to see Santa. Finally when it was Christmas Eve, I woke up and went to the fireplace. To my surprise, the fireplace was on fire! I looked into the fire. I nearly panicked when I saw pieces of a red coat and some fuzz. Santa Claus is dead. Then later I found out my uncle played a joke. Ha! Ha!By Sean MaguireMy most memorable Christmas was 94 when I said for months before Christmas that the only thing I wanted was a Sega CD and nothing else. My parents kept telling me whenever I asked about it that they were not going to get it for me. Come Christmas day, I asked and asked about it and my dad kept getting a serious look on his face and said, Son, we didnt get that this Christmas. I really started feeling down about it until I saw a really big box and I asked my mom what it was and she said it was just a box, and then I knew they had gotten it for me. I was really excited when I opened it and I thanked my grandparents.By Steven SadlerIn my family, we always go to my Grandpa and Grandma Sadlers and eat dinner at his house, and when we go home that night we get to open one present. And then on Christmas morning we get up at 7:00 in the morning to open the rest of our presents.By Michael PickettOn Christmas I really wanted a remote controlled car but my grandpa got me a remote controlled truck. Later after I opened my presents, I went upstairs and found a cat on my bed and my uncle told me that it was my Christmas present from him. Then my mom gave me the remote control car that I wanted and I went outside and drove it in the snow.By Emily WeithoffMy family has many traditions. We celebrate the 12 days of Christmas. Every day we get a small present until Christmas. Then when Christmas comes, we get our real presents. We also bake a lot of goodies like cookies and brownies and all kinds of sugary stuff. We also leave out cookies and milk for Santa and carrots for the reindeer. Every Christmas morning my mom, dad, my brother and me always go into our living room (where the tree is at) and open presents. When we open our presents, we turn on Christmas music. So my family has many special traditions. As you can see, each one is very special to me.

By Mara Coy

I can remember when I was at school and all my friends were wearing Adidas coats. All I wanted was one. If I got one I'd be the happiest person in the whole world. Well, it was Christmas Eve. I couldn't sleep. I tossed and turned all night. I was so excited I couldn't stand it. Finally it came. I thought it'd never come. We did our normal procedure. First my Grandma's house, then my aunt's, next my other Grandma's, then ours. After all that still no coat. I was happy with what I got but I really wanted the coat. That night all I could think about was going back to school without an Adidas coat. The next morning I got up and there it was. It had just come in late. So I was the happiest person! I couldn't have done without it.

By Saira Khan

In my family every New Year my parents give me and my brother presents. I like this because most people don't get presents on New Year but I do. My parents have always given me presents on New Year's as long as I can remember. I always enjoy New Year's. The only bad thing is that once New Year's has come it means Christmas vacation only has one day left.

By Jenna Kiefner

A Christmas tradition...hum...let's see here. That would probably be the fact that all the family gets together on Christmas Eve. This yearly celebration usually takes place at either my house, my aunt's, or my grandma's house (it varies from year to year). There we have a feast. Yum! Drink lots of eggnog, distribute gifts, and share the Christmas spirit!