By Evlin Nunes and Audrey Vago
The Holidays
The holidays are filled with many fun activities and shopping for holiday gifts can be difficult. This Hive Article covers the perfect gifts for kids, teens, and adults. It also covers fun ways to celebrate the holidays and how people, who don’t celebrate Christmas, spend their time.
Christmas
Christmas originated from pagan celebrations; for example: an ancient Roman festival called Saturnalia, Yule and Sol Invictus. Christmas also has links back to the birth of Jesus. It is now celebrated on December 25 every year. Other holidays that people celebrate over winter break include Hanukkah and Kwanzaa. People also celebrate Diwali earlier in November.
Diwali
Diwali is a festival of lights that incorporates fireworks. During this festival there are days of dancing and spending time with loved ones. They eat lots of foods but cannot consume meat and instead eat foods like vegetable curry on these days. Bhagya celebrates Diwali along with many other Hindus. “Gujmn is the best,” Bhagya said. Another sweet treat that is commonly enjoyed throughout this holiday is a traditional dessert called Gulab Jamun which are sweet fried balls covered in saffron sugar syrup. Diwali is a time to let goodness take over and get rid of evil.
Winter Break
Most students spend their winter break with loved ones, traveling to see them for the holidays and exchanging gifts. But other students have their family come to them, “I do not travel for Christmas. Usually, my grandma and Tammy, my step dad’s sister, join us for Christmas dinner,” said Courtney Klein.
Winter Activities
A few favorite winter activities are ice skating, skiing and playing in the snow. For example, snow tubing, sledding, building snowmen and making snow angels. “I like sledding and snowmaning,” says Bhagya Ramineni. Other activities include baking cookies, making gingerbread houses, Christmas movie marathons and watching the Nutcracker Ballet. You can ski, snowboard, and tube at Perfect North Slopes, you can sled at Summit Park and Symmes Park, and you can ice skate at Northland Ice Center.
Gifting
Sometimes it can be hard to find the perfect gift for a friend or family member. Some of the best gifts for your mom include jewelry such as necklaces, bracelets, and earrings as well as books, candles, fuzzy slippers, purses, and candy. Gifts for your dad could include waterproof cameras, sunglasses, shoes, coffee/tea mugs, clothes, and workshop tools. A few gift ideas for your sister, friends, girlfriend, or daughter are jellycats, blankets, books, headphones, shoes, clothes, jewelry, makeup, skincare, and organizers. Gifts for brothers, friends, boyfriends, and sons can include LED lights, an Xbox, a Nintendo Switch, a gaming setup, speakers, and shoes. Lastly, gift cards are a safe option for all.
Conclusion
Many people celebrate their holidays differently depending on culture, religion, and most importantly: family. As much as we hope this gift guide helped spark an idea for a Christmas present, the most important part about winter break for everyone is spending time with the people you love most. Happy Holidays!