When Bruins were asked what their holiday traditions were, some found themselves in quite the pickle.

According to students and staff members at Bear River, from hiding a pickle ornament in the midst of their bushy Christmas tree to a “fancy” dinner at Taco Bell, family-formed traditions are a major part of what brings people together at Christmas time.

“My favorite thing about Christmas is spending time with my family,” said Bear River Principal Christopher Roberts.

He elaborated on how his childhood Taco Bell dinner began.

“When I was a kid… we’d go visit family and exchange gifts [on Christmas Eve], and one year we were super hungry, so my parents took us out to Taco Bell,” he said. “It kinda stuck, and we did it for quite a few years after that.”

Featuring another strange food, Senior Nathan Farey laughed about his family’s recurring pickle-hiding tradition.  

“Every year, my mom puts a pickle in the tree, and whoever finds it gets an extra present,” he said. “It’s a fake pickle, obviously, but it’s still weird!”

Junior Grace McDaniel described her family’s “cookie day.”

“My favorite Christmas tradition is what we call Cookie Day,” she said. “My whole extended family goes to my grandma’s house and helps her make and decorate… thousands of cookies.”

Senior Layla Ray also said that she loves decorating cookies, explaining how far some of her relatives come to participate in this tradition, and to spend valuable time together.

“[I make] Christmas cookies every year with my family,” Ray said. “My favorite part about Christmas is the fact that my entire family comes together from different parts of America to celebrate Christmas together.”

Ray said that her plan for winter break is to spend time with her family, along with her friends. Farey said something similar, but McDaniel’s plans were more specific.

“My holiday break plans consist of basketball, homework, and using my free time to play guitar with my dad,” she said. “I also plan on using my time to get back into a running schedule to prepare for track season.”

Sophomore Marco Davis talked about how he wants to use his break from school to spend more time with his family, and elaborated on their exact schedule.

“My family members and I are going to Victorian Christmas, and then the next day we are going to Christmas shop at the mall,” Davis said. “… After that, we are going to Olive Garden, because it’s our tradition.”

After Christmas, Mr. Roberts said that he and his wife will be celebrating their 22 wedding anniversary.

“My wife and I will be celebrating… on January 3,” Mr. Roberts said. “We’re heading to Disneyland, just her and I, to celebrate. We’ve done this the past few years and really enjoy it. We spent our honeymoon there in 1997—before y’all were born!—so it’s quickly becoming a tradition.”

Ray said that she wanted to wish all Bruins happy holidays, also reminding students to stay safe over the two-week break from school.

“Merry Christmas!” she said. “Have a safe holiday.”