As the weather cools and the semester winds down, students across Aliso Niguel begin preparing for winter break, a time filled with celebration, family gatherings and personal traditions that mark the season each year. For many, these moments are the highlight of winter, offering a chance to slow down and reconnect with the people who matter most to them.
Winter traditions vary widely among students, yet all share a common thread of community and comfort. Whether they involve travel, festive meals or gift exchanges, these rituals help shape the memories that define each holiday season. For some students, break becomes an opportunity to visit relatives they rarely see during the busy school year. For others, it is a time to honor cultural or religious traditions that have been passed down through generations.
Senior George Bourget shared that his winter break has always included celebrating Hanukkah with family.
Bourget says, “During the winter break I usually go to San Diego with my family to celebrate Hanukkah. We have dinner, bond and open gifts together.”
His description reflects how traditions can strengthen a sense of belonging. For George, the time spent with relatives is less about the presents and more about the familiar warmth of gathering around the table. These routines become anchors, giving each year a sense of continuity even as life changes.
Other students mark the season with celebrations tied to Christmas. Each family develops its own version of the holiday, often passed down through habits that have quietly become tradition. For Junior Giselle Vargas, Christmas Eve is the centerpiece of her family’s winter rituals.
Vargas says, “Every year I celebrate on Christmas Eve. We wait all day and when it hits midnight we open presents, but before that we have a huge dinner.”
Giselle’s tradition focuses on anticipation and the excitement of staying up together until the clock strikes twelve. The long evening of shared food and conversation creates an environment where time slows down and the significance of the moment becomes clear.
Freshman Janan Motamed described her family’s approach, which blends celebration with playful competition.
Motamed says, “I usually have my cousins come over for Christmas dinner and we do white elephant. Sometimes we host parties too.”
For Janan, winter break brings noise and laughter, especially during the white elephant games that turn gift giving into something both unpredictable and entertaining. These lively gatherings offer students a joyful break from school routines and a chance to strengthen bonds with extended family.
Sophomore Michael Mohseni shared that his winter tradition centers around returning to a familiar home where generations come together.
Mohseni says, “My family and I go to my grandma’s house every year to celebrate Christmas. We have a nice dinner and enjoy each other’s company.”
Michael’s tradition highlights how the season can be rooted in simplicity. A single gathering place can hold years of memories, from shared meals to stories retold each December. These constants remind students of the comfort and stability that family can provide, even as the world outside changes.
While each student’s winter break looks different, their experiences highlight the importance of connection. Whether they involve religious celebrations, late-night gift exchanges or gatherings at a grandparent’s home, these rituals help define the season for the Aliso Niguel community. They offer a chance to pause, reflect and appreciate the people who shape their lives.
As winter approaches again, students look forward to slipping back into familiar patterns. They anticipate the food, the laughter and the traditions that return every year without fail. Most of all, they look forward to the sense of belonging that comes from being surrounded by family and friends.
For every Wolverine, winter break means something unique. Yet together, these individual traditions create a larger picture of the season, one rooted in warmth, memory and the simple joy of being with people who feel like home. No matter where they celebrate or how, students carry these traditions and continue to shape the shared spirit of the winter spirit.
