The holidays are fast approaching — holidays you may be familiar with, such as Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa, New Year’s, etc. This article is not about those. The same seasonal events have been repeated over and over, forming annual traditions like the stockings that hang on your fireplace or the number of candles you light in the menorah. These traditions are comforting, nostalgic, and even sacred to families around the world, but I find that the many special holiday activities can be more spontaneous, silly, or niche traditions made up by grandma who had too much spiked eggnog or sugar-high children running around the house.
For example, my parents started what is now our family tradition when they were in their later years of college. Every year, on the day after Thanksgiving, a large gang of family and friends meet at a local park to play a game of hardcore American football. Except there’s a twist: one team is dressed up like Santa, the other team as turkeys. It is a distinct kind of holiday joy to see a line of identically decked out Santa Clauses tackle a bunch of children dressed in turkey costumes. Over the years, the location of where we play has moved around significantly, originating in Oakland and ending up here, just like the group of people playing the game has changed. What always stays consistent is the costumes and the hype. This is just one example of taking a typical holiday and making an aspect of it into a fun tradition of your own!
Another example of a unique and homemade holiday tradition was created by Franklin graduate Anika Kasten and her family. On Christmas Eve and around many other holidays such as the winter and summer solstices, and Easter, the Kasten family takes a hike to a cold plunge to celebrate. This cold plunge serves not only as an excuse to go on a celebratory holiday outing but also has health benefits that went into the planning of this unique tradition. “Once the pandemic happened my family began doing more research on temperature exposure and breathing exercises and how they can benefit mental health,” said Kasten, explaining a bonus factor of the icy plunge. This season, Kasten and her extended family will take a hike to a lake or river for the beloved brisk swim. “I love this tradition. It feels unique to me and my whole family enjoys it,” Kasten reflected. “I feel like it has brought us a lot closer.”
Of course, there are more common, but still unique traditions like the Christmas pickle, originating from Germany, where a pickle — sometimes a real pickle dripping with vinegar, or more commonly, an ornament pickle — is hidden around the house for others to find. The first person to discover the hidden pickle wins a prize of some sort. Audrey Lynch, a Franklin junior, partakes in this semi-popular tradition. She hides a small ceramic pickle just out of sight and watches as her adult family members chase each other around the house, hoping to win the cash prize. “It is so funny to see all the adults in my life running around and sabotaging each other for money,” Lynch recalled, laughing.
Another tradition practiced by a Franklin family is “The Great Pumpkin” celebration. On Hallows’ Eve, KD Nine, a Franklin junior, goes on a family walk collecting autumn foliage to assemble with seasonal treats such as pumpkin cookies and butterbeer. The treats are brought by “The Great Pumpkin” who is really Nine’s parents in disguise. Fortunately, the festivities don’t stop for the Nine family at Halloween. Around Thanksgiving, family, friends, coworkers, and acquaintances meet up to eat pumpkin soup together and stay warm. “Pumpkin soup is celebrated with caramelized onions, marinated tofu, and sometimes fresh sourdough,” Nine explained. “I really love these celebrations because they are so unique to my family,” she said, showing the pride that accompanies these special traditions.
There are infinite holidays to be celebrated around the winter months. These holiday practices serve no purpose but to bring joy and connection to families and communities. They are often sacred to whomever made them and come with years of precious memories and stories. Whether you are dressing up in an inflatable turkey costume, diving into freezing water, or slurping pumpkin soup, traditions that are made by you and your loved ones are often the most special. There are always more traditions to be made; go make some new ones this year to continue when you’re older!