Many families all over the world have different holiday traditions. Many common traditions are exchanging gifts, decorating Christmas trees, sharing meals with family and friends, or traveling to other places. 

  Many RCHS students will be traveling during the holiday season. Traveling for the holidays is a great way for people to see extended family.

Will Gibbs is a junior at RCHS.

“We always go down to visit my grandparents in Louisiana,” said Gibbs. “Louisiana is famous for its cajun seafood, [so] we always have a classic southern seafood meal for Christmas Eve: boiled shrimp (which you peel yourself), Cocktail sauce, rolls, potatoes, and corn on the cob.”

There are many other holiday traditions at RCHS. Some families think it is better to stay home and have a movie night with one of the many classic holiday movies.

Sarah O’Daniel is a sophomore at RCHS. 

“My parents were doing it before my sister and I were even born, and since we’ve grown up watching “The Polar Express.” It’s just been our absolute favorite holiday movie to watch,” said O’Daniel. “Each Christmas Eve, my sister and I get a lot of blankets and pillows, and we set up a makeshift bed on the living room floor, and my mom makes us hot chocolate with cinnamon and nutmeg, and Caramel popcorn with M&M’s in it.” 

The holiday traditions only continue by having a classic holiday meal.

“After the movie, we head to bed, and then Christmas morning, we eat a deer gravy and biscuits, along with eggs, eggnog, and sometimes we eat hash browns. My grandpa makes it every year with the deer he hunts, and my grandma helps.” said O’Daniel. 

Keely Newman is a sophomore at RCHS.

“We read the Night Before Christmas every year,” said Newman. “We only read this one on Christmas Eve as we go to bed. My parents just started reading it and now we do it every year.” 

Other common RCHS traditions are Elf on the Shelf, the Christmas pickle, and matching Christmas pajamas with the family.