My Favorite Holiday Tradition

People around the world celebrate different holidays throughout the year.  Over time, people have shared and passed down family and holiday traditions, which add to the beauty and joy of celebrating a holiday.  Holiday traditions can originate from a specific cultural tradition or a blend of cultures, and they can also be new ones that we make up on our own.  In some cultures, certain holiday traditions are very similar, which shows we have more in common than we may realize. No matter what your holiday traditions are, one thing we all can agree on is how special and happy holiday traditions make us feel.

We ran a contest and asked kids at Piscataway Library to tell us about their favorite holiday and favorite holiday tradition using words and / or pictures.  Kids could write about any holiday during the year, and we received some very interesting stories.  We received 28 submissions and everyone that participated in the blog contest deserves a “high five” for doing an amazing job writing about and illustrating their favorite holiday tradition.  With so many wonderful submissions, it was hard to pick one winner so every child that participated in the contest received a cool sticker of his or her choice and a mini coloring book / activity pad and stamper.  We also had a random drawing to give away a special prize to one winner.  Congratulations to Anushka, a preschooler, whose entry was selected.  Anushka won a copy of Hop on Pop by Dr. Seuss!!

A big “thank you” to everyone that participated in the blog contest.  Your stories and drawings are ready to share with the world!  If you participated in this blog contest, stop by Kennedy or Westergard Library, starting January 10, to pick up your prize and let us know which library you would like to pick up your submission if you would like to have your story / drawing back.  Great job everybody!! 🙂

Christmas by Anushka, Grade Pre-K: My favorite holiday is Christmas and I like to decorate our Christmas tree.

Valentine’s Day by Giula DeSantis, Grade K:  I like Valentine’s Day because we get cards and candy!

 

Easter by Mia DeSantis, Grade K:  I like Easter because I like to hunt for eggs.

St. Patrick’s Day — by Brianna Avezzano, Grade 3:  My favorite holiday is St. Patrick’s Day.  I like St. Patrick’s Day because it is a day of good luck. Saint Patrick was a Saint and a Patron, and he died on March 17, 461 A.D. in Ireland.  You wear green to be invisible to leprechauns.

 

Diwali by Aryana Patel, Grade 3:  My favorite holiday is Diwali.  Diwali, the Festival of Lights, is indeed the most awaited and most celebrated festivals of India. Diwali goes on for 5 days. Lighting of the Driyas and candles all around the house, worshipping the Laxmi Ganesh.  Here are 3 reasons why: 1) The first reason why Diwali is the best holiday is because you can put up lights. For example, my family puts lights on our doorsteps.  2) The second reason why Diwali is the best holiday is because you can make flowers on your doorsteps.  For example, we make all different kinds.  We use sand to make the flowers.  3) The third reason why Diwali is the best holiday is because we dress up.  For example there’s always designs on our dresses.

Christmas by Isabella Bohorquez, Grade 2:  Christmas, Christmas, Christmas is here.  Christmas is one of my favorite holidays of the year. On Christmas kids come to houses to sing Christmas carols. There is a guy named Santa Claus.  He leaves presents for kids and some people leave Santa cookies and milk.

Christmas by Anissa Guetahoun, Grade 2:  My favorite holiday is Christmas because you spend time with your family and people come to your house and some are dressed up as Secret Santa and you give presents out to kids and you get candy canes.

Christmas by Haley Umang Patel, Grade 2: My favorite holiday is Christmas.  I like to help my mom make cupcakes.

Easter by Veera Umang Patel:  I like Easter. It is fun. I get to see rabbits.

New Year’s by Avani, Grade 5: It was New Year’s Day and my family was sitting on the couch waiting for the count down. We had a tradition, where we would eat 12 grapes during the count down for good luck. “Avani, it’s time!” my mom yelled. I quickly started shoving grapes in my mouth, and 10 grapes later, I heard “3-2-1!” I shoved the rest of the grapes down and smiled. That is my favorite holiday tradition.

Chinese New Year by Nancy Deng, Grade 5: My favorite part of the holidays is spending quality time with family and friends on Chinese New Year!

Christmas by Kaiyi Jiang, Grade 4: Yo, I got a VR player for Christmas. I enjoyed it so-o-o badly that I got crazy with it! I even caught a laser fish! It is one of my top #1 favorite fish! I was fishing like a bear! Check out my drawing of my fish below.  Wow, Christmas is like a miracle! I LOVE VIDEO GAMES! 🙂

Christmas by Jiaya Jiang, Grade 1; On Christmas, my sister had a VR challenge. She gave it to me and she put it on Goosebumps. It was not Goosebumps and it was OSUM — the Monster was a big mascketow! Check out my drawing of the monster below!

Christmas by Ana, Grade 1: My favorite holiday is Christmas. First, I wake up on Christmas Eve and make cookies and a gingerbread house. Then I make a lunch which includes turkey, mashed potatoes, salad and a pie. I get ready and set up the table for the party I am hosting. I call my neighbor and her family for the party. After the food, we go to the theaters and watch a movie. Then we go watch fireworks.  I sleep and in the morning open presents.  After that, I spend the day in New York.  Merry Christmas!

Christmas by Nafia, Grade 5: Christmas is my favorite holiday.  One of my favorite holiday traditions is to go holiday shopping for my family.

Eid by Zainab, Grade 1: Eid is my favorite holiday.  In Eid, you can give presents.

Christmas by Diana, Grade 2: Christmas is my favorite holiday. I like to decorate the tree, and I like to draw and give stuff to people.

Christmas by Arshi, Grade K: Christmas is my favorite holiday and I like to decorate my home.

Christmas by Arjun, Grade K: Christmas is my favorite holiday. I love to decorate my house.

Halloween by Roshini Bodempudi, Grade K: Halloween is my favorite holiday and I like candy collection on Halloween.

Christmas by Viswa Bodempudi, Grade 5: My favorite holiday is Christmas!

Christmas by Roshini, Grade Pre-K:  My favorite holiday is Christmas!

Christmas by Nataly, Grade 1: My favorite holiday tradition is to play in the snow and make snowmans.

Christmas by Noah, Grade Pre-K: I like to make cookies.

Christmas by Nyla, Grade 3: I like to play in the snow and go to my cousin’s house. I also like to decorate the tree.

Eid by Maroua Choukrane, Grade 7: My favorite holiday is Eid. In Eid, the whole family gathers together and we have a feast.  Eid might sound like Thanksgiving, but it is very different. On Eid, we don’t eat turkey, we eat lamb. I enjoy it very much.

Christmas by Nyla Brown, Grade 1: I celebrate Christmas with my family because it is the Best day!

Christmas by Sanijah, Grade 2:This is me decorating my Christmas tree.