By Jillian Hammell
Staff Writer
The thought of break brings a smile to the faces of Bonaventure students, and the cheer of the holiday season will follow each student home. Along with the happiness of the holidays, students can look forward to the countless traditions that make Christmastime special.
“Christmas is my favorite holiday,” said freshman undeclared business major, Taylor Godshalk.
Godshalk said he celebrates with his parents and older brother and enjoys simple Christmas traditions the most.
“I would like to see my extended family in California, but the distance keeps us apart,” Godshalk said. “My brother, who goes to school in Wisconsin, comes home from college and we have several traditions. We watch my favorite movie, ‘The Polar Express,’ and we sit down for a nice family meal.”
One particular activity Godshalk appreciates is the hunt for the Christmas tree.
“Unlike most families, we do not go to your regular tree farm,” he said. “Instead, we go to the woods behind our house and cut down a tree. We usually get a tree around 13 feet. Our ceilings permit us to do so.”
Meghan O’ Rourke, a senior French and journalism and mass communication major, said she waits until Christmas Eve to put up her Christmas tree.
“We follow traditional religious beliefs,” O’Rourke said. “My family and I set up and decorate the tree on Christmas Eve. After the epiphany concludes on Jan. 6, we take down our tree. However, the rest of the house is decorated before Christmas Eve.”
Christmas carols have been on the radio for more than a month now, and freshman journalism and mass communication major Owen Brodhead said he continues the musical spirit on Christmas Day.
“I have a large family and on Christmas Day we like to sit around and play music on either the piano, guitar or bongos.”
Brodhead said his little cousins love joining in on the tradition.
“We play Christmas carols on our instruments for the kids and give them maracas so they can play along.”
Brodhead also said he enjoys channeling his inner child during the holiday season.
“Back in the old days, my family and I would have snowball fights in the backyard,” Brodhead said. “We have not done it in a while, but I am going to try and bring it back.”
Some Bonaventure students still practice childhood traditions, but not by choice. Freshman sports studies major Andrew Rooney keeps the childish spirit of Christmas alive.
“My mom makes my brother, sister and I wear matching pajamas the night before Christmas,” Rooney said. “It’s been a tradition since I was a kid.”
“We also set up a Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer train set around the tree on Christmas Eve,” Rooney said.
Students across campus celebrate the holidays in different ways, but most importantly, many spend holiday traditions with beloved family members or friends.
