With the crisp smell of winter in the air and festive decorations going up, it’s evident the holiday season is upon us. The season is not only about gift giving, eating delicious food, and watching holiday movies, but also how the community comes together. During this time, many have unique traditions and embrace diverse cultures, which is what truly makes the holidays so special.
Students and teachers at LM celebrate various holidays such as Christmas, Hanukkah, and Chinese New Year which all occur during the winter. For example, Stella Sommer ’27 shared, “I go to my grandma’s house on Christmas Eve and we do the Seven Fishes. This is a tradition some Italians do on Christmas Eve, where you make seven different kinds of fish or seafood.” This tradition is a great way for Stella to embrace her Italian heritage during Christmas time. In another example, recently retired Math teacher Peter Davis told the Merionite that, “I am from Liberia, and there, people would make food and go around and share it or give it to others on Christmas. We don’t do this tradition here since most people around here are fortunate enough to have food. We celebrate Christmas like most Americans do. We go to church in the morning, get together for dinner, with everyone bringing plates and desserts. ” For those who celebrate Christmas, it clearly remains a time for togetherness and community.
Hanukkah is also a popular holiday here at LM. Adam Riloff ’26 shares, “Me and my family start off the first night of Hanukkah with our extended family. The rest of the night we do our prayers, light the menorah, circle around the fireplace, and open our presents.” Noah Bernstien ’26 added, “I am modern orthodox and Hanukkah is one of my favorite holidays. Me and my family make latkes, light the menorah and the shamash, exchange gifts, enjoy gelt, and do dreidel tournaments. We also will say more prayers than we usually do on a day to day basis.” These Hanukkah traditions are shared among many students here at LM, and are another way our community comes together.
But Christmas and Hanukkah are not the only festive winter holidays. Many students look forward to the vibrant and joyful Chinese New Year. Marcus Lord ’26 explains, “We have a big family reunion dinner, and we eat lots of food that’s considered lucky, like dumplings. The adults give the kids red envelopes filled with money, and we also all wear red.” This holiday is a time for togetherness, allowing some LM students or staff to enrich themselves in cultural traditions that are very special to many families.
And while many do celebrate through a specific holiday, others simply take in the cheerfulness of the season. Aliyah Alwyn ’26 says, “I am Muslim, and although there isn’t an actual Muslim holiday I celebrate during the holidays, me and my family eat good food, give gifts to each other, and I spend quality time with my siblings.” English teacher Saher Masoodi added to that anecdote, sharing that “Since I am Muslim, my family and I don’t celebrate Christmas, but it still feels like a holiday to me because we are together under the same roof, which happens only three to four times per year. During winter holidays, we enjoy shopping, watching movies, and driving out to view Christmas light displays.” Even people that don’t necessarily celebrate a winter holiday still get to indulge themselves in the spirit, love, and togetherness that occurs during this time.
This sense of community is displayed through the fusion of cultures as well, with many coming together to celebrate and appreciate multiple holidays. Global Studies teacher John Grace shares, “My son was raised in the Catholic tradition and recently married his wife who was raised in the Jewish tradition, so this year we are celebrating both Hanukkah and Christmas. It’s a really cool experience to bring Hanukkah to my immediate family.” Likewise, Augie Nathanson ’26 states, “My dad is Jewish and my mom is Christian, and although me and my family are not very religious on either side, we celebrate both Hanukkah and Christmas. We get our gifts on Christmas and light the candles during Hanukkah. It’s nice I’ve gotten to grow up experiencing both holidays.” The ability to embrace multiple religions and cultures is an incredible thing which makes LM’s community even stronger.
From Christmas to Hanukkah to Chinese New Year and more, many get to enjoy the magic floating through the air during winter time. Through festive activities and cheerful traditions, LM’s holiday spirit and diversity shines during this season.
