Traditions

Holiday traditions are a big part of all of our lives, whether it's a holiday shared around the world, like Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, or simply a family tradition. Traditions contribute to a sense of comfort and belonging in your community. It brings people together, and allows for loved ones to reconnect with each other during the holidays.
Annie Peterson, a senior, enjoys taking part in the Geyserville Tractor Parade which is held every Saturday after Thanksgiving, which her and a couple other families started. They decorate agricultural vehicles, such as a tractor, a truck, or a 4-wheeler, and drive down Geyserville Avenue. It started when Annie was 8, which was about 10 years ago. It began with just her dad and a couple friends having fun driving down Geyserville Avenue with tractors, and has grown so much over the years bringing communities together for the holidays. The town even closes down Geyserville Avenue every year, and there are now entries and prizes, which shows how it has become such a huge part of Sonoma County and its history.
Allie Grande, a senior, has a tradition of eating Chinese food on Christmas Eve, then opening Christmas pajamas with her family to wear the next morning. She also does Secret Santa with her friends, which they started freshman year. They usually set a money limit of around 40 dollars. She has celebrated these traditions ever since she was little, and her favorite part of Christmas Day is opening the presents for her pets from their stockings.
Sebby Leffew, a senior, likes to open an advent calendar during the month of December with his family. On each day, they do an activity like decorating the Christmas tree or going out to see all the Christmas lights around his neighborhood. He has celebrated this ever since he was born, and his favorite part is to get the Christmas tree, and spend time with his family.
Laurel Heaney, a sophomore, enjoys going over to her cousin's house and playing dreidel, a traditional Jewish game where each player spins the dreidel and depending on what side they land on, they either give or take gelt (chocolate coins) from the pot. They started celebrating when they were little, and she frequently wins at this game. Her favorite parts of the holiday are hanging out with her family and eating traditional Jewish dishes, particularly latkes (a potato fritter.)