Natalia Alvarado, a Sophomore at OHS, explained that every year her family gets together to make dozens of Costa Rican tamales, as shown in the photo. Though her family cannot get together, they decided to continue the tradition but keeping it between her intermediate family.
Christmas is one of the most magical holidays of the year.
Years past families would gather under one home and celebrate Christmas but all has changed this year. As Covid-19 surges through the country, many Americans are questioning their usual ways of celebration and are faced with a tough question: How do I celebrate the holiday season safely?
After Thanksgiving, cases of Covid-19 skyrocketed in the month of November. For the upcoming season, many health officials warned Americans against large gatherings and travel which could cause the pandemic to spike. Compared to last year, the amount of people traveling was much lower during Thanksgiving. Although after Thanksgiving over three million people were screened and were traveling back home.
Despite this, there are still many safe ways to celebrate during the pandemic. This year, students of OHS are finding creative ways to celebrate this holiday season with their families.
Sophomore Zoe Vance shows her well lit Christmas tree. “My family’s traditions are going to a tree farm and picking out a tall tree every year and decorating like shown in the picture.” Vance added while this has not changed, she also spoke of how she can not visit any family members, and might talk to them over the phone instead.
Monica Delgado, Sophomore, commented on her Christmas plans which are “staying in and baking sugar cookies with the family, so not many plans will be changed this year.” Delgado also stated that, “This year we’ll be traveling to visit my Nanny and Grandpa in Tennessee since they’re a bit older and it’s safer for us to travel to them.” She assured they will all be taking the precautions necessary to make sure everyone stays safe and healthy.
An Oakdale Junior, Ally Rice, explained that this photo represents Christmas and her traditions because her grandfather owns a Christmas tree farm in Western Maryland. “Every year my dad and I go visit him and pick out our tree. Because of Covid, we were only able to visit for a couple of hours”. Rice added that she was happy and grateful to still be able to visit him, even for a couple of hours.
OHS Sophomore Johann Myles relayed his tradition during the holiday season as “decorating the tree on the first of December every year.” Though the tradition won’t be changed, many others will be, such as not being able to see many friends and family due to Covid and staying local. “We might try to do zoom meetings on Christmas to see everyone on that special day,” Myles mentions.
Jada Baskin, OHS sophomore, wrote how this photo represents her Christmas because “every Christmas Eve, [my family and I] stay up and then open one gift under the tree at 11:59 PM.” In addition to that, Baskin stated how this year, there won’t be as many people over to pick presents from under the tree and it will just be her immediate family and her grandparents over to do this tradition.Olivia Tehann, Sophomore, responded, “This represents the play, A Christmas Carol, at the Weinberg,” which Tehann explains has been her family’s tradition to go watch it for the past three years. “Last year, I was able to be part of the production,” she reveals. Tehann expressed regret that due to Covid-19, her family will not be able to watch the play. . Instead of going to Weinberg, they plan on watching Christmas movies at home.
Sophomore Olivia Adams says that her traditions are going to visit her relatives at their house. ”This year, because of the pandemic, I have to stay home and celebrate Christmas with just the people in my household.” She also included, “I will still connect with my family by calling them and by mailing them gifts instead of seeing them in person.”
Sophomore Conner Pamplin recalls his traditions as staying home with family staying over. “We stay inside and play board games and such. Staying inside isn’t really affected by the pandemic, but because of it we don’t have the ability to have a family member or grandparent over,” Pamplin explained. “This year, we’re probably going to be staying inside even more, and we will have to celebrate with the rest of our family probably over FaceTime instead of in person.”
Sophomore Kenzie Clapp says that her Christmas tradition is having a tree up, usually pretty early in the season. “Our family, including Grandparents, celebrates a tradition of hiding a pickle in our tree and whoever finds it gets an extra present on Christmas Day,” confides Clapp. She explains that due to COVID-19, her grandparents and other family members won’t be with them to celebrate, but other than that, not much will change.
Sophomore Makenna Krasauskis says, “My dad’s side of the family gets together on Christmas Eve, but [they] can’t do that now because of Covid”. Krasauskis confides that instead, it will just be her and her close family having Christmas dinner together, followed by video calls to extended family on Christmas and Christmas Eve.
Donate to The Oakdale Post
$150
$400
Contributed
Our Goal
Your donation will support the student journalists of Oakdale High School. Your contribution will allow us to purchase equipment and cover our annual website hosting costs.
Aliyana is a Sophomore at Oakdale High School. She enjoys to read, write, and hang out with her friends in her spare time. Aliyana is also apart of Environmental...
Loading ...