APU students share a variety of fun and exciting holiday traditions
As the fall semester comes to a close, many APU students are looking forward to not only taking a break, but also celebrating the holiday season with family and friends.
In the spirit of the season, APU students have various holiday traditions that they hope to spend with their loved ones. They all share the same desire, but have different traditions for this season.
Sophomore acting for stage and screen major Kendra Smith expressed her feelings for this Christmas and things she looks forward to doing with her family.
“I am really excited,” Smith said. “I am ready to see family, take a break from all of the homework and just pause and reflect on what this holiday means to me.”
Smith is especially fond of the food she has access to during the holidays.
“I really like my mom’s snickerdoodles, fresh kettle corn for the holiday and ham,” Smith said. “I like to help my mom bake and decorate, see Christmas lights and decorations and the community involvements of the holiday as we drive around the neighborhood.”
Smith explained the holiday tradition that her family has always done: bundling up as a family in one general area in Portland.
“A lot of us just have one specific day of the week to meet up, get food and have presents,” Smith said. “I’m from a very musical family, so we used to do a talent show. My family members would write musicals and perform them, then we make a little video. [These are the] things that would bring us together.”
Sophomore nursing major Karis Acosta shared that she loves being with her family, remembering Jesus and having family traditions during the holidays.
“One of my favorite traditions actually happens in New Year,” Acosta said. “Every single year, we go to one of our family’s friend’s house, have a big meal altogether, put on the New Year headbands and get all the noisemakers for the nine o’clock New Year. I love that tradition, and I’m looking forward to it again this year.”
Acosta also expressed her excitement to come back and enjoy her favorite holiday treats. She cannot wait to taste apple cider, candy canes and peppermint food, because they bring the holiday spirit to her.
Senior business management major Renae Giacopuzzi shared how she is waiting patiently for Christmas to arrive.
“I am very excited to see my family and friends, and I think it is a very sweet time,” Giacopuzzi said. “Generally my favorite thing to do during the holiday season is spend a lot of time with my family cooking in the kitchen.”
Acosta’s favorite holiday tradition is being together as a family on Christmas morning as well.
“I think one of my favorite traditions is that my family makes sure every single year on Christmas morning we are all together, just the six of us in my immediate family, have the same breakfast every year, open presents, listen to Christmas music and watch a Christmas movie together,” Acosta said.
Acosta asserted she is looking forward to celebrating with family and friends.
“I love how holidays bring people together, and I usually don’t see the friends that we see on New Year during the year, so that just makes the tradition so much more special,” Acosta said.
For Giacopuzzi, Christmas never gets old in her family, even though they are all growing older.
“I think my most favorite is playing games with my siblings on Christmas Eve, because it is pretty much the only time of the year we are together. It brings out our rambunctiousness and a lot of fun,” Giacopuzzi said. “We open one present on Christmas Eve; my mom still makes us all stockings even though we are adults, and my 29-year-old brother still jumps on everyone to wake us up for Christmas morning.”