As Christmas draws near and a three weak break commences students and teachers begin to fill with excitement, thinking about their traditions and activities they will partake in over the holiday.

Since the winter season is at hand, The Feather has collected several stories about traditions and activities that FC students participate in. Over the next several days, additional stories will be published below.

In addition to these collected responses, The Feather encourages readers to email their own memorable stories to The Feather
until Dec. 19.

Christmas, birthday and grandma’s
Macy Mascarenas, ’16
December 14, 2012

My favorite Christmas tradition is going to my grandma’s house on Christmas Eve. All my family gets together, my sister opens her birthday presents, because she was born on Christmas, and my grandma makes cioppino which is soup.

Pranks and great times
Jordan Boudreau, ’13
December 14, 2012

Every Christmas Eve my entire family gets together at my grandparents house. We eat a lot of good food and just have a great time together. Usually we play a prank on someone and just have a good laugh about it. So, overall it’s just a really great time.

Salvation Army volunteering
Jonathan Nyberg, ’14
December 14, 2012

Every Christmas Eve my family volunteers at the Salvation Army. We stand outside a store at the mall and ring the bells at the donation buckets. It’s a fun Christmas tradition.

Fellowship and fun
Shannon Martens, ’15
December 14, 2012

Every year on Christmas Eve our family has a big party with a lot of food. We invite a bunch of friends and extended family. It is a great time of fellowship and fun.

Sacramento with family
Kevin Thao, ’13
December 14, 2012

Every year our family takes a road trip to Sacramento. In Sacramento we spend time with my cousins, share gifts and go shopping. We bond over family dinners and over all have a great time.

Oregon and instruments
Amanda Menes, ’14
December 14, 2012

I’m looking forward to having time off over break and just enjoying myself and not having to rush. As far as what I’m doing for Christmas I”m having dinner with my dad’s side of the family than we are going to Oregon to visit my mom’s side of the family over break. When we celebrate Christmas with my mom’s side of the family, everybody plays an instrument or sings and it becomes a family recital for all of us.

Church, family and gifts
Justin Houts, ’16
December 14, 2012

I love spending time with family. We always eat dinner and go to church, then open gifts together. It’s a great time of the year, and my favorite holiday.

Creating new traditions
Mike Fenton, Head of math department
December 14, 2012

We just started a new tradition at my house yesterday. We finally mounted our first Christmas tree that was bigger than a foot. Another tradition is opening one gift on Christmas Eve because we’re not patient enough. In the past the presents used to be the most important but now it’s family. We spend time with the grandparents and just have a great time together.

Rehabilitation for second semester
Brandon Porter, ’13
December 14, 2012

I’m looking forward to getting time off from school and stress. I’m getting a clean slate again for second semester. I’m just trying to finish out my last semester of high school strong and much needed rest is a big part of that.

Snowboarding in Colorado
Bobby Christopher, ’14
December 14, 2012

I’m excited to go snowboarding in Colorado with my family this Christmas break. We have been doing this for four years and it’s a great tradition. I hope to continue this annual trip for years to come.

Break leaves time for SAT studying
David Ryu, ’14
December 14, 2012

I’m spending this Christmas break studying more. I’m studying for the SAT. These three weeks of Christmas vacation equal my life.

Culinary Christmas
Ashley Erickson, ’16
December 14, 2012

I’m really looking forward to not having any school work. I’ll finally get to relax. One tradition that we do in my family is we always open one present on Christmas Eve. On Christmas day my dad cooks us breakfast and then we open the rest of our gifts.

Festive party unites family
Annalise Rosik, ’16
December 14, 2012

I don’t have a lot of family in town so sometimes Christmas is fun and sometimes it’s not. However, this year I have a lot of family coming so it’s going to be a huge party at my house this year, which I’m really excited for.

Christmas spoilers
Katherine Bennett, ’13
December 14, 2012

I think Christmas is a great time to remember what our faith is about, and celebrate it. We normally open one present on Christmas Eve and then open the rest on Christmas day. After we go up to our grandma’s house and have a Christmas dinner.

Fellowshipping with friends
Emmaline Krohn, ’16
December 14, 2012

We open presents before anything else. Usually we spend time over at a friend’s house and have dinner with them. I like Christmas because its a great holiday to spend time with your family and friends.

‘Wonderful Christmas Time’
Suzy Carroll, ’14
December 14, 2012

I’m definitely excited for Christmas. I finally get a break from school and there’s no more homework. It’s a nice season of the year, and you can get gifts for everyone.

Family bonding over Christmas lunch
Joshua Carter, ’16
December 14, 2012

I’m pretty excited for vacation. There’s no more homework that I need to finish. We bring my grandfather and uncles over for Christmas lunch and open presents.

Time of relaxation
Jon Agao, ’14
December 14, 2012

I am very excited for Christmas break. The three week break is going to be so nice; I finally have time to relax. We always get together with the rest of my family. My aunt and uncle will drive down to Fresno for the holidays.

Holiday reminders
Brandon McCormick, ’13
December 14, 2012

My family and I go to a Christmas service on Christmas Eve. Then we come home and open a few of our presents. On Christmas day we get up around ten o’clock, open our presents and then have breakfast. I think Christmas is great. Being able to relax, because school is stressful, especially for seniors. I love the fact that Christmas reminds us about Jesus, because it’s all about him and I usually thank him early in the morning on Christmas.

For more discussions, read the Nov. 20 article, Thankful times: Join the discussion (PODCAST).

For more features, read the Dec. 14 Students anticipate Christmas vacation (PODCAST)