Different cultures, same love for the holidays

This holiday season there are so many things to be thankful for. And in many different cultures, there are different traditions of celebrating the holiday season. Here at Buena Vista University, we have the opportunity to have students come to study from all across the world. These students have chosen to share their diverse experiences throughout the holidays.

“Most Latinos celebrate Christmas festivities on Christmas Eve. Some of the foods that we make around the holidays are menudo which is a spicy soup, posole which is a hot corn stew, and tamales. Around this time of the year, deserts such as Bonuelos and Champurao which are great snacks for the family”

-Griselda Martinez 

“Christmas at my house is spent with the family opening gifts, eating good food, but most importantly spending quality with the ones we love the most…each other. The holidays are the perfect time to cherish those close to you because you never know when their time might be up. What better way to say, ‘I love you’, than on Christmas day?”

-Robert Elmore 

“In the Hmong traditions of holidays, there is a lot of design and artwork. The clothing style is colorful and vibrant, but we only wear them when it comes to a New Year and also for weddings.  There a lot of design to each piece of clothing because each symbolizes a story about the family. Also, our family gathers around and instruments are played, only by the men. The holidays are about reflection in my culure.” 

-Tou Xioung

“We all come together and watch the classic 1983 film A Christmas Story and indulge in eggnog for starters. Father Christmas is the name used for Santa in most countries colonized by the British which includes Ghana. We imagine that Father Christmas tiptoes around every house in the world at night and sprinkles a handful of happiness on everyone. People are just so nice during this time of the year, and I love it. What I’m trying to say is that I love the love.”

-Desmond Owusu 

“In the Mexican culture, the holidays are the time to gather around with the family. I gather with my uncles, sisters, and parents to make traditional Mexican foods like mole, tamales, and pozole. Every year we make a special batch of ponche, also known as punch, which is a very common drink during the Christmas season. Most in our culture celebrate and open presents on Christmas Eve.”

-Zoami Calles Sosa

In the end, no matter what nationality you are, or where you come from, the holidays are a special time to celebrate the time of season and be thankful for the love and gathering of family. Have a happy holiday.