Winter is a time for joy and celebration, with many different holidays bringing people together. At Steinbrenner High School, students and staff celebrate in unique ways, reflecting the diverse cultures in the community. From Christmas and Hanukkah to Lohri and other traditions, the holiday season highlights the spirit of togetherness and the beauty of different traditions.
Christmas is a Christian holiday, hence the inclusion of “Christ” in the name, that occurs every year on December 25th. In early Christianity, the public only celebrated the resurrection of Jesus as opposed to the birth, but in the fourth century, the church decided to commemorate his becoming. While the Bible does not include a date of birth, Pope Julius I, chose December 25th.
While Christmas began as a drunken, rowdy festival, Americans in the 19th century reinvented it into the family holiday we know today. The Christian holiday has spread its roots and is now one of the most widely celebrated winter holidays.
Many people that celebrate Christmas have nostalgic traditions that bring back the bliss of the holiday. One of the most treasured traditions includes the Christmas tree, the first ever decorated tree was in Riga, Latvia in 1510. The decorations include tinsel, beads, memorable ornaments, and especially the star or angel on top.
Gifts are put under the tree and opened on Christmas morning, exchanged surrounded by the smell of pine. Other traditions include stockings, leaving cookies out for Santa, and mistletoe.
“It’s the magic of it, of the holiday itself, how it brings people together to make memories everlasting.” Mr. Fowler, one of the social studies teachers at Steinbrenner, said. These traditions are what make Christmas so special and keep the holiday alive today.
At Steinbrenner high school, spirit week is a tradition that happens every year the week before winter break. Walking the halls, it’s a common sight to see people dressed up as characters from holiday movies and things related to Christmas.
The themes for each day go out on Canvas for students to see, some themes are different every year. This week allows students to be creative with their ideas and show school spirit.
“I think everyone has a choice to participate, but I think it would be cool to see more people at school wearing ugly sweaters.” Sophomore Kavish Ramoutar, said, as some students don’t dress up because they think they are too old to show holiday spirit, or they just don’t want to.
There are many popular holidays around December, Hanukkah being one of them. Hanukkah is a Jewish holiday that comes between late November and December every year.
The activities and traditions celebrated during this time are lighting the menorah, dancing the hora, and playing the dreidel.
Senior Ezra Gondleman said, “After lighting the menorah we gather in a circle to dance and sing.” He also says that each family does their own thing, but dancing is big in the Jewish community.
During Hanukkah they also eat a lot of food like jelly donuts, hallah bread, Latkas, and many more. This Jewish holiday is about gathering and lighting the menorah.
A Greek Orthodox religion, Epiphany, is a yearly tradition that is celebrated widely throughout Florida and have their yearly cross-dive in Tarpon Springs. The Christian holiday originated from the Roman empire and is celebrated on January 6th. It also is known as Three Kings Day or Theophany. It celebrates some key events of Jesus Christ’s life including, The visit of the Magi, or Three Wise Men, and the baptism of Jesus.
During this holiday, people enjoy having feasts and many celebrations. People bless their homes and eat special foods, like the King Cake. Many children receive gifts, commemorating to the Magi bringing gifts to Jesus Christ.
One special tradition in the Greek Orthodox community is when young men dive into freezing water to retrieve a cross thrown by a priest, which represents Jesus’ baptism. They host a celebration right here in Tampa Bay. The holiday is a great time for loved ones to get together and share magical traditions with one another.
Among many famous holidays, Lohri is a popular winter holiday in India. Predominantly celebrated on 13th January, in the northern regions of India, especially Punjab and Haryana, Lohri marks the end of winter and the beginning of longer days.
The festival is celebrated by lively bonfires around which family and friends gather to sing folk songs, dance to the beats of dhol (drums) and enjoy festive delicacies like popcorn, jaggery, and peanuts.
“It’s one of my favorite holidays because you get to be with family and friends.” said freshman Vera Suri, who celebrates this holiday with her family every year. It holds cultural significance as it symbolizes unity, gratitude, and the joy of sharing.
The holiday season is a time of joy, reflection, and celebration, filled with traditions that highlight the beauty of cultural diversity. Whether it’s the festive spirit of Christmas, the meaningful observance of Hanukkah, the cultural pride of Kwanzaa, the warmth of Lohri, or the significance of Epiphany, each tradition brings people together in unique ways. These celebrations remind us of the importance of unity, kindness, and understanding, allowing us to honor our differences while sharing in the universal joy that defines this season.
