As the holiday season approaches, students are getting ready to be out of school and, honestly, anywhere but in class. It is well-known that the holiday season is a time to celebrate love, gratitude, and shared traditions. Whether through food, music, culture, or simple togetherness, people around the world form beloved traditions that they take part in every year. This begs the question: what exactly is tradition, and how does tradition differ across cultures?
Wilmington Friends School is an establishment filled with students from diverse groups, and within each, there is much to explore about what the holidays mean to them and how exactly they celebrate. Whether a religious celebration, a family tradition, or personalized customs, all students, no matter their background, have found a special place for the holiday season in their hearts.
Now, when some people think of holidays, they immediately think of Christmas; however, there are many different holidays celebrated world-wide. Alex Wolfe ’26, who celebrates Lunar New Year, notes the importance of the tradition of the red envelopes. He says, “It’s basically a tradition called ‘hong bao’ where the older people give the younger people money and pray for good luck.” The
reason for this tradition is to convey good wishes for the new year while chasing away any evil spirits.
Those whose traditions do not include gifts find comfort in spending time with family and friends to help them unwind. Bradey Bulk, upper school French teacher, says, “Christmas is quiet in my family. We have a champagne breakfast, we make sweet rolls, and I happily go to bed and fall asleep by 10 o’clock.”
Arlo Nekoukar ’26 celebrates Hanukkah – an eight-day Jewish celebration dubbed the Festival of Lights. He talks about how he gets the best of both worlds, family and tradition, by spending Hanukkah following traditions such as making latkes, or “potato pancakes” with the people he loves the most, his family. “We make food together, we light the menorah together, and we spend a couple days in New York City together,” Nekoukar ‘26 says. The Menorah is a ninebranched candle, and the custom follows lighting the central candle, then using it to light the other candles, one candle a night for eight nights, while reciting blessings. “Hanukkah, in the media, is just kind of underdone with just a few customs and giving presents, but it’s a lot about family and about community and about sharing something together,” Nekoukar ‘26 says.
Additionally, there is a holiday period dubbed “Detty December” in Ghana, which does not exactly fit the stereotypical idea of holidays providing tranquility and calmness. The period marks the beginning of numerous parties, concerts, and pop-up events that occur throughout the country. The special thing about this tradition is that it is not an official celebration by any means, and it just became popular nationwide because everyone enjoyed it so much. Detty December is a custom created by the people who garnered fame, and also led to Ghana becoming a fairly popular holiday destination.
All of the holiday traditions students share at Friends prove that the heart of celebration lies within spending time with those we love. That’s why it’s important to go big or go home! Spend time with loved ones, just as long as it leads to a feeling of wholesomeness and togetherness.