On New Year’s, my family has Japanese New Year and makes Japanese food such as mochi, which is Japanese rice pounded. It’s fun.
Kamala Puligandla
College first-year

I’m from West Africa. In my family, we spend time decorating with cards and Christmas decorations. We play Christmas carols within our house a few days before and after Christmas. Also, family keeps visiting and we share food.
Philip Eck
College sophomore

We all sit around the Thanksgiving table and say grace. Then, we eat arroz con pollo. This is one of our main dishes.
Irene Pabon
Conservatory first-year

We do Passover and Hannukah during the holidays if we’re all here, for my brother’s in Israel. We do the Ahgadah, the instruction for Passover, which consists of prayer, eating special dishes. With Hannukah we light a candle every day for eight days.
Michael Buchman
Conservatory junior

We are Armenian, and on my father’s side we celebrate on the Armenian Orthodox Christmas, which is on January sixth. On my mom’s side, we celebrate on December 25, because my mom’s brother is married to an American. We spend quality time with family.
Harout Senekeremian
Conservatory senior

One year my grandmother found a recipe to make a garlic and pesto pizza, which was made between 11 p.m. and 12 a.m. When it was done, we banged pots and pans up and down the street and screamed.
Cary Cody
College sophomore

Usually we have traditional ham and mutton for Christmas. Families from Colorado and California visit my Navajo reserve. We exchange gifts, but it’s about seeing family and spending time together.
Olin Bekis
College first-year

At Thanksgiving, about 70 family members celebrate in a church basement and we argue about politics. I have a Republican congressman in my family and he receives a lot of flack and everybody brings food.
Matt FerrisSmith
College first-year