Christmas is fast approaching, and so is New Year’s Eve. Worldwide, traditions emerge and are passed down bringing families together.

People at WP were interviewed about what their cultural traditions were and shared them.

Ms. Cordova, the 10th grade counselor, was asked what her traditions are for Christmas.

She replied, “I’m Colombian American, so we celebrate the night before Christmas. We stay up until midnight and have chocolate.”

Williamsburg Preparatory is a 70% Hispanic school, so many students similarly celebrate on Christmas Eve.

Cordova was interviewed about her traditions for the New Year. She said, “I do still stay up till midnight; I live by the park, Prospect Park, so they have fireworks at night.”

Hanukkah is a Jewish religious holiday celebrated from December 7- December 15. Kesya Landa is a junior at WP and shared her personal cultural traditions during Christmas.

Landa said, ”You have presents of course and then you have a big feast kinda like Christmas. You go to see the rabbi (the priest) and he teaches a bunch of stuff.”

She was asked if she received presents, she replied, “You get a present for every day of Hanukkah so you get presents times eight. You have a menorah and you light the candle with the one big candle on the back or in the middle. On Shabbat you’re not allowed to turn on electricity so one candle is always being lit.”

She was asked if she enjoys it, she replied, “Yeah, I celebrate Christmas as well, it’s kinda both, so it is a lot of fun.”

Flyers of a Google Doc form were put up asking students to share their family traditions. No students responded.