by Caroline Dai

As the holiday season approaches, students in AWS Upper School are excited for a well deserved break. In a diverse student body, students from different cultures celebrate the holiday season in their own tradition. Some see the holiday season as making gingerbread cookies and decorating the tree, while others see it as blessings from the elders.

Senior Jagmit Dhami celebrates Diwali with friends at school

Students from Seattle are excited to celebrate with their families. “I really like Christmas Eve when my dad’s family can come to my house,” said Sophomore Olivia Dahl. “I also think dark chocolate would be a great Christmas present.”

“My family likes to travel to national parks, the Grand Canyon, and East Coast cities,” said Sophomore Addie Weeks. She remembered one Christmas fondly. “I wanted pizza, so my mom let me make some, and that ended up to be our Christmas dinner,” she said.

Lunar New Year is popular in Asia, as students from Vietnam, Korea, and China get “lucky money,” which is typically a red envelope containing money for young people from their parents and other relatives. Korean Senior Hanbin Moon said: “I like to gather with my friends and share good meals with my family during the break.”

Vietnamese  Senior Khue Tran said: “I look forward to eating rice cake, which is special for celebrating in my country.” She is also excited to go home for Christmas for the first time in her three years in the Upper School.

Diwali celebrates the god Rama and his wife Sita coming home after a long journey, and Indians and Nepalese light candles to help them find their way. Hindus go to temples and light lamps with others. “By celebrating Diwali, I feel more connected with my community,” said senior Jagmit Dhami.

Sophomore Sydney Simon celebrates Hanukkah by making potato pancakes called latkes, having family parties with cousins and saying a prayer while lighting candles. Hanukkah, known, like Diwali, as the Festival of Lights, is a Jewish holiday that is observed for eight nights. The first night was Sunday, December 6.