Every year, families from around the world gather to celebrate Christmas.

Every family has a different tradition. Whether it be looking at Christmas lights on Christmas Eve, or drinking hot cocoa and watching holiday movies.

During the month of December, many families put up a Christmas tree and deck the halls with boughs of holly. No pun intended.

Freshman Elizabeth Goodman enjoys going around looking at Christmas lights and spending time with her family every year.

“We go to different subdivisions to look at lights,” Goodman said. “I enjoy spending time with my family. We always go to the neighborhood where my mom grew up and look at the Christmas lights there too.”

Some students spend time at home with their families. They decorate the house, watch Christmas movies, and some open small presents on Christmas Eve.

Junior Anna Stair spends Christmas at her grandma’s house every year, opening presents and having a family dinner.

“Ever year my family goes to my grandma’s,” Stair said. “We always gather around the Christmas tree and open our gifts while we have Christmas movies playing, then we go and eat a big dinner that my grandma makes every time.”

While many families spend time with each other on Christmas Eve and Christmas day, some families do things during the entire month of December.

Sophomore Seth Brinker and his family spend each Friday leading up to Christmas gathered around the television watching holiday movies.

“Although we don’t do much for Christmas Eve or Christmas day, my family and I get together and watch Christmas movies every Friday before Christmas,” Brinker said. “It’s pretty fun if you ask me. We all sit together bundled up in big blankets with hot chocolate and lots of snacks. It puts a smile on everyone’s faces and brings us closer.”