Many think that the Holidays are all about receiving gifts. That’s not the case. When asking the students of Woodland Regional High School what the holidays mean to them, they gave a range of answers such as spending time with loved ones and recreating holidays traditions you made when you were little. 

As back to back holidays come around, Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas and New Year’s Day, it hits when you get older that these holidays aren’t all about presents. 

“When the holidays come around the house is filled with all kinds of amazing smells as it has always been this way since I was little,” said Freshman Sophia Seely.

The holidays are filled with joyous laughter, tasty treats, and presents underneath the tree. The house is filled with family and friends that gather around the table to say prayers and light candles to celebrate history and honor traditions that have been passed down through generations.

“As a kid all that mattered was the amount of presents you got and if it is more than your siblings got from Santa,” said Freshman Sophia Seely “but in truth it also matters if your parents took out the video camera to record you opening your presents to have as memories, looking back thats whats matters the most.”

Presents and gifts are wonderful to get but to know you’ve brightened up a friend or family member’s day by picking out the perfect present to give is one of the best things in the world knowing they’ll cherish it forever. As a young adult, the realization that comes with the holidays is that family and friends may not last forever, but the memories and the laughter that was once exchanged does. 

“If my mom never pointed out that Christmas isn’t all about presents it would still be that way for me,” said Freshman Macy Gilloren.

Hanukkah isn’t the main holiday, but it is a close second which is widely celebrated all over the world, of the history of an oil lamp lasting eight days instead of one, which was a miracle. 

“I have a friend that celebrates Hanukkah and the holiday means alot to Jewish tradition as it is a way to celebrate the history and the miracle,” said Sophomore Kayla Reyes.

Holidays mean something different to everyone no matter how it’s celebrated or spent, it only matters what the holidays mean to someone like you.