Thanksgiving has passed, and with those turkey’s digesting in our stomachs, more and more holidays are just around the corner. Between Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and jolly ole Christmas, Thanksgiving was the appetizer to all things happy. The holidays are a special time of year and while many have an opinion on how their holidays are spent, Tahoma has the same central idea: family.

Out of those who took the survey about what the holidays mean to you, 85% of people actually like the holidays, while 15% said it depended on which one. 70% had Christmas as the number one pick for a warm fuzzy holiday, yet only 20% had enjoyed stuffing their faces with stuffing. Although one of the major concerns is that there are a few that would enjoy the holidays with not only family but friends as well. Tahoma Junior Alicia Norgate says that “friends are a lot like family and having them with [her] during the holidays would make it that much [more] meaningful” to her holidays. Norgate also mentioned that with friends being there, it lessens the expectation of other family members. “Sometimes the holidays are full of dread, waiting to hear someone’s criticism during a happy time. If my friends were over it might lessen that dread.” Some can relate but not all holidays are like this.

Sophomore Eden Atwood, had told Tahoma that “Christmas, Thanksgiving, and all the other holidays bring happiness and a general closeness with friends and family. The holidays make [her] a better person and help me be a community contributor.” Not only do the holidays mean spending time with family, but it also means to help others and be there for others in need.

A common theme displayed throughout the survey’s results mentioned that family is always with them, and there is always food. As a child most people think of presents the second you hear the word Christmas yet as one gets older, the more people mention food. Corbin Ferguson, a junior at Tahoma, had written in the survey that when the holidays feel special with family there is  “lots of food. Great, good food” along with it. Some would even enjoy making the food, senior Odalys Terrazas Amador said that it would be “at home, having a lazy day with family and cooking delicious food,” it can be a part of a tradition that will make memories that everyone will remember and can set the path for future memories.

Of course, no one can forget the best part about the holidays, no school and possibly no homework. The holidays give students a chance to relax and not be extremely stressed out about certain assignments. “For the love of Pete, I will be upset if I get homework over Winter Break,” said Atwood. Most would agree that having any sort of homework over a time where you sit and eat nothing but food that just by looking at it you will gain 10 pounds.  

As expressed, nothing beats how the holidays make everyone feel. Some might have gotten excited when people could buy Christmas inflatables in Costco back in October or realized how broke they were after all the Black Friday deals. Either way, everyone feels something and that something means something. Have a great holiday season Tahoma.