What are students’ and teachers’ holiday traditions and superstitions?

By Arely V., Magaly G., Wendy G., and Johana O.

While at this point the winter break seems so long ago, there were many memorable moments that CATS teachers and students experienced as they celebrated Christmas and New Year’s Eve.

Like many other families, senior Pedro F.’s family opened their gifts in their pajamas on Christmas morning.

“I opened gifts in the morning. However I did accidentally ruin the surprise of one of my gifts,” he said. “My sister didn’t get a chance to wrap my gift and I saw it before she could, so I guess I did open one gift at midnight.”

For Ms. Jocelyn Lopez, history teacher, the traditions begin on December 24. “So basically, like we have a dinner and then we wait until midnight to open the Christmas presents,” she said. “And then usually Christmas Day, so like 25th, we eat recalentado.”

Science teacher Ms. Xiomara Sanchez said that for Christmas, people come to her house. “I don’t go anywhere, I just decorate my house.” While English teacher Mr. Benny Martinez said that, “occasionally we’ll go to a trip. We’ll either go to San Diego, or go to or Yuma, or Vegas.”

But what are holidays, if not superstitious?

With the approach of the new year, various people practice different traditions on New Year’s Eve in the hope of attracting positive things.

“The women in my family are superstitious,” Ms. Lopez said, “So they tend to do the kind of like the superstitious activities or traditions that are done on New Year’s Eve. Like eating 12 grapes, you know, before like midnight or something like that.”

Another New Year’s Eve ritual she mentioned is “grabbing your bag like a travel bag and going around your house with your travel bag.” She explained that “it’s kind of like a symbol, like if you do this before midnight that means during the New Year you’re going to travel more, vacation more, or something like that.”

Although Ms. Lopez says she doesn’t know if she believes in these superstitions, she picks what rituals to practice, and for hers it’s “cleaning the house before the New Year.” She claims it attracts positive energy. “I do that one. For sure I do.”

For many teachers and students, the holidays are also a time to create new memories.

“My fondest memory has to be doing karaoke this year,” said senior Jonathan A. “It was something we did differently this year. And it was actually a great thing we did. It was really fun and one of the best moments of this vacation.”