Celebrating Traditions

Early Winter is a season of gathering, reflection and celebration. From the reverence of Veterans Day to the vibrant festivities of Diwali and the heartfelt gratitude of Thanksgiving, this time of year reminds us of the traditions that shape who we are.

In our diverse community, the season is a kaleidoscope of different lights, sounds and meanings. By sharing our traditions, we can learn about each other and we can build a stronger, more connected community. We asked some 10th-grade students at East Ridge High School to share with us some of the family traditions they celebrate.

“In the fall, when there's a full moon, my family would get mooncakes and have them after dinner,” says Fiona Zhou.

“My parents are divorced, so I have different traditions for each side. On my mom's side we usually do a small get-together, watch Hallmark movies and eat big pretzels or we’ve taken trips to Arizona, Spain or Germany. On my dad’s side, we get together at someone’s house (usually down south) and we stay there and eat and do things together like shooting, or going to parks,” says Kylie Rakowczyk.

“Every Thanksgiving, my family volunteers to give out turkeys to families in need through Meals on Wheels. It’s something my family has done for about 15 years to make sure everyone has a warm meal and a reason to celebrate,” says Micah Arnold.

“In late Fall, my family and I gather together to have a potluck and spend some time together before people get busy. This potluck helps us bond, remember good times, check in on each other and strengthen our bonds. While we make a lot of food, one of my favorites is musakhan rolls, which translates to cooked chicken rolls with caramelized onions. I truly cherish this tradition a lot because it reminds me to be grateful for my family and cherish them even more,” says Cerine Aljaroudy.

“Every year my siblings and I dress up in our Hmong clothes and go to the big Hmong New Year event at the RiverCentre. My favorite part is watching the Hmong dancing and spending time with my friends. I also love the Hmong food they sell,” says Giselle Frerotte.

“During Black Friday, my family and I go shopping and buy a lot of stuff. It was a fun tradition we started in the past for fun, but now become a yearly tradition,” says Milkesa Abenesha.

“Every year during Thanksgiving, my family and my cousins get together and do an egg toss. Some of the eggs are hard-boiled boiled and some are raw. We like to play 500 with them or see the farthest someone can throw and catch them,” says Brooke Bunge.

This fall, we encourage you to not only embrace your own family traditions with full hearts but to take a genuine interest in the traditions of your classmates, neighbors and people in our communities. Ask questions. Share your own stories. The most beautiful tradition we can create together is the tradition of celebrating one another.