Holiday Traditions
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By Julia Coccaro
arnumbia houses a community that epitomizes diversity of race, religion, culture, and more. Given that we are in the throes of the winter holiday season, we thought it would be interesting to talk to four fellow students about their holiday traditions: how they spent the holidays growing up, their fondest memories, which holidays they celebrate (and which they don’t), etc. Sophomore Noga Shlapobersky from Los Angeles has historically celebrated Hanukkah consistently with her family. “Most nights it would just be me, my parents, and my brother, and we would have a small ritual at home. We’d light the menorah, say the prayers, sing a few songs, and then have dinner. After dinner we’d eat fresh sufganiyot (traditional jelly donuts for Hanukkah) that we get from a small bakery, and watch the candles go out on the menorah.” If that night they were celebrating with friends, they’d do the same ritual, but with a gift exchange. Because both of her parents are Jewish/ Israeli, she’s never celebrated any other holiday. “I loved the way my family celebrated Hanukkah since it was pretty non-consumerist. I didn’t really receive presents from my parents once I wasn’t a little kid anymore and we just enjoyed spending time together without needing flashy celebrations.” Senior and NYC native Jeanne Locker and her family dabbles in multiple holidays, though she doesn’t identify as religious herself. “My dad is Jewish, so we’ve done Hanukkah, but my mom also used to take me to church, so it was pretty varied,” she explained. “Sometimes it would be pretty religious and sometimes it wouldn’t. We’d do Hanukkah and then forget a day, and then do Christmas, but we didn’t usually have a tree. We always had some sort of gift exchange, though. Looking back, the various experiences were really fun.” THE BULLETIN -
56 - Dec. 2019/Jan. 2020
