When thinking about major holidays during the winter, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah, and New Year’s first come to mind. Society has helped mold our perceptions regarding each of these special days, Charlie Brown anyone? However, there are many students around EHS who break the stereotypical ways to celebrate and relax over the holidays we all look forward to.

Sophomore Nicole Wothe celebrates Christmas and Thanksgiving at the same time. Say what? In explanation as to why this happens, she explains, “my grandparents leave for Texas every year right after Thanksgiving and they didn’t want to miss celebrating with us, so we celebrate early.” She also mentioned that they eat Thanksgiving food while having a Christmas tree set up and decorated, and after dinner family members exchange gag gifts.

Sophia Reyes also likes the throw society for a loop. She eats spaghetti on Thanksgiving. When asked why, she responded, “we were on vacation and my mom thought the turkey in Florida was too expensive and would take too long to cook in the small condo we were staying in so we bought spaghetti and root beer floats instead.” When they have Thanksgiving with their extended family, though, they normally have a traditional turkey dinner, “because someone else makes it.”

Junior Abhi Nayar celebrates an Indian festival, Diwali. This Hindu festival is known as the Festival of Lights and is done in honor of the god Ramas. During Diwali, celebrators light small lamps called diyas; “it’s one of the only times you can make a ton of noise, and burst fireworks outside your house without getting in trouble.” Because his family celebrates, “pretty much everything, from Diwali to Hanukah to Christmas,” some of their methods of celebration break away from the “norm.” For example, his mom never makes a turkey on Thanksgiving; their family dines at Perkins instead.

Throw some spice in your life this holiday season by starting a new tradition of your own!