Around the world, there are all sorts of special and interesting traditions that families carry out during the Christmas season, and students here at St. Dominic are no exception.

Sophomore Olivia Kimack participates in a fun, mesmerizing tradition each year: the Kimacks take a trip to Anheuser-Busch to look at the beautiful Christmas lights with their family from out of town.

“Going to Anheuser-Busch brings my family closer together, and we always have a great time together. I would definitely recommend doing this with your family and friends,” Kimack said.

Sophomore Macie Begley and her family like to spend a day of their Christmas season baking special chocolate-covered peanut butter cookies called “buckeyes.”

“Making buckeyes is when my family is all together for once, and we can just have fun and catch up with each other!” Begley said.

Junior Colin Quain also has a wonderful tradition with his family: the Quains go to evening Mass together and then come home and watch Saturday Night Live’s Christmas Special while eating homemade cookies.

Junior Ashley Werdes has a bit of a rowdier tradition. Her family plays a game on Christmas Eve called “Rob Your Neighbor” with cheap, funny gifts.

“I have a big family, so playing Rob Your Neighbor helps bring all of us to one space to be together and spend time together,” Werdes said.

Another one of Werdes’s favorite parts of Christmas is opening up family Christmas pajamas and putting them on with her older sister.

Seniors Anna Stiffler and Evan Abel also have some awesome traditions with their families. Each year at Abel’s grandma’s house, every member of the family has a designated ornament to hang on the tree from his grandma’s box. Abel says this tradition helps bring his immediate family closer each year. Meanwhile, Stiffler and her family go to the Journey of Bethlehem each year, where they watch actors retell the birth of Jesus and get to spend quality time together each Christmas season.

“It’s so special because I spend so much time with my whole family and enjoy making the best memories!” Stiffler said.

No matter how old or young, traditions during the holiday season can make time with your loved ones just that much more special. Be sure to cherish every moment with your friends and family during the Christmas season, and carry on (or pick up) some new, awesome traditions!