The holiday season is typically a joyous time of year accompanied by warmth and laughter. Spirits on campus are bright as the Mater Dei community embraces the festive cheer and begins to prepare for upcoming celebrations. From decorating Christmas trees with twinkling lights to dinner with loved ones, holiday traditions bring families and communities together. Monarchs share some of their most beloved Christmas memories and annual traditions.
Junior Audrey Aquino celebrates the Christmas season with traditions she and her family have brought from their home country, the Philippines. Her family’s annual winter festivities include family photoshoots and decorating their Christmas tree with dollar bills. They also enjoy splitting the money on Christmas Day.
“Some of our traditions are really unknown and unpopular, but we brought it over here because it is something my family has always looked forward to,” Aquino said.
Prior to moving to California her freshman year, Aquino spent most of her childhood in the Philippines. Integrating both American and Filipino cultures into her current holiday celebrations, Aquino is grateful for the experiences between the different cultures and how it has shaped her identity today.
“I feel closer to my heritage, and I appreciate that I can continue to celebrate my culture,” Aquino said.
Junior Ty Bragalone’s favorite way to prepare for the holidays is decorating his Christmas tree with ornaments his family has collected over the years. He reflects on the feelings of nostalgia and the joy that Christmas brought his childhood while growing up.
“My siblings and I have designated ornaments, and we each get a new one every year. It’s a nice way to look back and recollect on all our childhood memories,” Bragalone said.
Bragalone also continues the traditions of his ancestors by making homemade pasta with his grandmother. This beautiful tradition has enabled Bragalone and his family to honor life, as well as reconnect with family they may not see often.
“Because my family is Italian, we make everything from scratch at my grandma’s house for Christmas Eve,” Bragalone said. “My grandpa started the tradition before he passed, so I get to keep his memory alive.”
Food is an important aspect of the holiday season for many cultures. As a part of her holiday celebration, junior Hailey Foster prepares tamales with all of the women in her family. This tradition ties back to Foster’s family history and gathers multiple generations of women together in love.
“Tamales are a big part of Mexican tradition in my family. My grandmother grew up in Texas. When she was raised, it was just the girls that made the tamales [while] the men cut the meat outside for hours. We have just done it like that ever since,” Foster said.
Though the process of making tamales requires several hours of labor, Foster feels gratitude for the experience because it has fostered an environment of family unity.
“It’s something I look forward to every year because I am closest with all the women in my family. I am just grateful that the holidays bring us together,” Foster said.
The holiday season is one of the busiest times of the year, as well as one of the few chances that allows families to come together. Amidst the stress that many people face, comes a reminder of gratitude. When all that is left is the love families have for one another. It is the process of spending time with others that truly brings happiness.
“I feel connected to all my family because I get to focus my time around all the people I love,” Aquino said.
Bragalone is also appreciative of this season and recognizes the comfort Christmas has brought to him and his family.
“It’s great. I get to see my entire family come back together every single year on Christmas day,” Bragalone said.
