Winter Break

The two major holidays for me this winter break were Christmas and New Years. My break hasn't been anything special but it was still enjoyable. On Christmas eve I spent the day wrapping gifts and getting things ready for later on that night. Later on that night I went to queens with my grandmother and sister to spend some time with my fathers side of the family. It was a pretty gloomy day, raining and without snow but the air was still fresh. We spent the night eating and talking and laughing and singing Christmas karaoke songs. On Christmas day I traveled around to families homes to open presents and then went to a Christmas party to end the day with some people my age.
On new years day I went with my parents to church where they had a service for the new year. After that I spent some time with some friends and my sisters taking pictures, dancing and singing until 3 in the morning. We went ice skating later on that day and overall had some fun this holiday season.

Doing certain things on Christmas and for new years are part of the American way of life. I guess you can call it the " cliche" things to do on Christmas. I do things SLIGHTLY different but i do have friends who especially celebrate Christmas the " traditional way." I would say the American Christmas is getting a Christmas tree and decorating it with your family one day. Putting out milk and cookies for " Santa" one Christmas eve and waking up 6 in the morning and running to your parents to open gifts. Being a consumer and buying things IS the American way of life and if the holiday is Christmas or valentines day or a birthday us Americans have based holidays such as Christmas on buying things for each other, sort of taking away the real meaning of it. Young kids wake up on Christmas morning and instead of thinking about how we are celebrating the birth of Jesus they hurry to open presents. it just goes to show how meanings can be overlooked by material objects.