What are your traditions during the winter break?

Holly Huston:

Before the break they have "Christmas Tree Day" when they put up their tree, decorate the house, and start playing Christmas music.  After the tree is decorated, they dance to Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree with her mother and their significant others. Every Christmas Eve, Holly and her mother head to Marion, Indiana with family eating what she describes as, "horrible pizza that nobody likes, but it's tradition to eat it." She and her cousin sort everyone's presents and they open gifts Christmas Eve and Christmas Day then she visits more family and has Christmas dinner.  During the break, she also makes the effort to head home as early as possible to visit friends. 

Sherry Brown:

During the break, Sherry works a lot and spends some time with her mother on Christmas Day. She usually works Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, but makes sure she doesn't work New Year's Eve or New Year's Day.

Kyn Yun:

He returns to China to spend time with his family. He often stays home with family members and they share a big dinner. Sometimes, they travel around the countryside.

Aeriel Thompson:

Aeriel and her family spend their break joking with each other, watching movies, playing video games and a little bit of drinking. At least once or twice a year, they head to Memphis to visit her grandfather. Thanksgiving is usually their big family holiday though.

Brandon Isakov:

Every Christmas, Brandon visits his grandparents, now in Tennessee.  He says they don't do the typical big Christmas. They have a big meal Christmas Eve, open a few presents Christmas morning, and just spend time together.

Audra Dormire:

Her family always gets together for Christmas, usually at her grandparents' house in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and spends much of the break with family functions. This year, she'll also spend some time applying for some grants. 

Adam Patti:

Over the winter break, Adam's family has three or four Christmases. He spends much of the break volunteering, working with church and a Buddhist group.  He tries to stay busy with community work as his family is otherwise occupied during the break. Adam also takes the opportunity to enjoy nature, specifically at Ox Bow Park in Goshen, Indiana. This year, he'll be working on some of his art for an exhibition and with a small group working on a new mural for The Oaken Bucket, a restaurant near campus.