The Patriot unwraps ways in which students and teachers celebrate the most wonderful time of the year.

“My father dresses up as Santa and rides around in a firetruck.  My siblings and I follow behind and carol.” from social studies teacher James Fendryk

“My family does the German tradition of the Christmas pickle. My parents hide a fake pickle in the Christmas tree, and the person who finds it wins an extra present.  One year, it was a Wii.” from junior Bryan Pussler

“We read ‘The Polar Express’ on Christmas Eve.  Then we throw oatmeal and an apple on the front lawn for the reindeer.” from junior Mary Kate Luft

“Every year for Christmas we set up the menorah too so that we can celebrate Hannukah. Instead of giving us a different present for each day, my dad puts them around the Christmas tree.” from freshman Emma Klineberg

“Every other year we go to Canada for Christmas. We visit my mom’s family in Ontario and have a big family dinner.” from senior Talia Kahoe

“Every year we have a Slovak dinner with Oplatki and honey seeded dough bread to celebrate the Slovak side of my family.” from sophomore Mitchell Russell

“Every Christmas Eve, we go to a Chinese restaurant. We rent out a room because there are around 30 Harkinses, and we go to a Habachi grill where they cook the food in front of you. Our favorite part is shrimp baseball.” from religion teacher Rachel Harkins