You can practically feel the excitement throughout Staples as the days count down to December 25: the air gets chillier, Christmas carols echo through the hall by the choir room, and students arrive at school toting Starbuck’s cherry-red cups.
However, with all this excitement leading up to the big day, it is no wonder that Christmas can be a bit anticlimactic.
“Christmas Eve is always fun because that’s when I watch Christmas specials and stuff,” said Keanan Pucci ’16. “But on Christmas day, you open presents, and then you don’t really do anything else.”
The wrapping paper may be in scraps on the floor, and Santa may have finished his rounds, but Staples students still have ways to keep this holiday from falling flat.
For Caroline Didelot ’16, the day is devoted to celebrating the story of the holiday.
“Christmas day for me is filled with church and family,” said Didelot. “I open my presents, then my family goes to church. I love watching the Christmas stories being acted out. My favorite stories that they act out are the ones with Santa Claus.”
For Jewish students of Staples, Christmas sometimes feels like just another day of the week. Although Max Warburg ’14 doesn’t celebrate the holiday, she doesn’t let the day off go to waste.
“I’m Jewish, but I still like to eat breakfast by the fire with my family on Christmas day, then go to lunch with my grandparents,” said Warburg.
Some students have even adopted unique traditions. Nicole Mathias ’16 and her family like to bring together friends of different beliefs.
“On Christmas day, my friends who don’t celebrate Christmas come over, and we have a dinner. It’s been my family’s tradition since I moved to Westport,” said Mathias.
For many, whatever the tradition, the day seems to involve eating.
“I go to my grandparents’ house during the day on Christmas, and I eat food. Lots and lots of food. Christmas Day should just be spent with family and food,” laughs Jaime Bairaktaris ’16.
On December 25, don’t let boredom spoil your eggnog. Staples students have found many activities to keep Christmas merry all day long.
