Kennedy students celebrate all kinds of holidays and have many different traditions during the holiday season.

Christmas, Hanukah and Kwanzaa are three of the most common religious/ cultural holidays this time of the year, but there are several other religious holidays occurring in the month of December.

Hanukkah is a Jewish festival that lasts eight days. It celebrates the rededication of the Holy Temple.

“For a typical Jew this time of year you would gather around a menorah with your family,” Jacob Sarasin, sr., said, “Other festivities include spinning dradle, eating potato pancakes which are called latkes.”

Kwanzaa is a another cultural holiday observed by many African Americans from December 26 to January 1. It is a celebration of their culture and values.

“Every year on Christmas Eve my family and I go to church and spend time together as a family,” Olivia Weigel, Jr., said.

“A tradition my family does is with a green pickle. My mom will hide it on Christmas morning and whoever finds it first gets an extra present,” Aaron Daughtee, jr., said.

Not all people celebrate a religious based holiday, but New Years is a popular celebration for most. Over 1 million people gather in New York City’s times square, and 2,000 pounds of confetti are dropped on the crowd according to history.com.

“Jews usually still partake in Christmas in their own way, even though it isn’t part of our religion,” Sarasin said. “Most people still decorate their houses.”