Home for the Holidays: BHS Staff Share Traditions and Festivities

Travis States
Staff Writer 
  For many people, Christmas is a time for family, giving, and enjoying familiar traditions. Bonneville High School staff members are no different, each celebrating the holiday in their own way, from meaningful memories to personal traditions.
  In a survey sent out to the school faculty, one of the first respondents was Mara Shiffler. Mrs. Shiffler’s favorite part of Christmas is being home with her family, playing games, eating delicious food, and opening presents: “It is just one of those days where you want to be with family, and you don't let little things upset you.” One of Shiffler's family traditions is that “everyone gets to pick their favorite cereal for Christmas morning. So we wake up, eat our favorite cereal then go look at what Santa brought us.” Afterwards, the family opens their presents. Later, her grandma and uncle arrive, and everyone exchanges gifts and plays games for the rest of the day. Shiffler's favorite Christmas memory was during her senior year of high school. That year, some family members that do not usually attend showed up, which allowed her to spend time with them. Additionally, she and some other family members helped her dad build a LEGO Death Star: “I remember that year my dad made all us kids stay up till about 3am to help him build his Lego Death Star.”
  Another faculty member who answered the survey is Camille Garner. Mrs. Garner’s favorite part of Christmas is spending time with her family, “I'm blessed to have a great family that's really close, and we always have a good time and laugh until we cry.” Her Christmas consists of a fondue dinner and a nativity play. Then on Christmas, her and her family unwrap presents, eat a breakfast casserole, and spend the rest of Christmas playing games and bonding. One of the activities her family participates in is making a giant quilt with squares made of old jeans, flannel, etc. After completing the quilt, Garner explained how her family uses it for giving: "We stuff the pockets with gift cards and treats, then doorbell-ditch it to someone who could use it.” Garner’s favorite Christmas was last year when all her siblings, in-laws, and nephews attended: 
“It's awesome to see the little grandkids playing together.”
From Shiffler's family cereal tradition to Garner's charitable quilts, BHS staff members show that Christmas traditions create lasting memories while strengthening family bonds.

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