TRADITIONS THROUGHOUT THE TOWN

By ALEX THEOFANIDES 

The 'Elf on a Shelf '//ALEX THEOFANIDES FOR THE WIZARD WEEKLY

With the holidays coming and going, people have traditions that they practice throughout the month of December. Christmas, Hanukkah, and other holidays, have been fostering different traditions for centuries. Some may not even know that their family’s traditions stem back hundreds of years ago. Family and friends come together to share special moments with each other and those moments are passed down from generation to generation. Some have continued to this day while others, unfortunately, have slowly died out. Whether a tradition is celebrated in thousands of homes or just in one, that tradition had to begin somewhere.

Traditions could have been originated from one's heritage or they may have been created to entertain children. An example of something produced for the purpose of fascinating children is the 'Elf On a Shelf.' This mischievous elf was officially created back in 2005 when Carol Aebersold wrote the Elf On a Shelf for her daughter, eventually catching the eye of many parents. According to the story, the little elf is sent from the North Pole to see whether kids are being naughty or nice. The elf then reports back to Santa every night. Each morning, children wake to find their little friend in a different location.

Abersold's idea was genius and the tradition skyrocketed across the nation making The Elf on a Shelf one of the most sought after traditions in a long time. Toy stores across North America were stocking their shelves with different versions of Elf On a Shelf. “My kids love Elf On a Shelf. He’s always in a different spot every day and even sometimes my husband will hide it, so I can go looking for him with them. I think anyone can really enjoy it,” Kerin Leival, a Washingtonville resident expressed with a smile on her face.

Religious traditions are equally important to many families. Joe Isseks, a senior at Washingtonville High, shares one tradition he and his family have done every year duringHanukkah. “Every year, for Hanukkah, my family and I get to together with some friends that belong to my temple and we open gifts, light the candles, play games and have dinner together. It’s a fun tradition that I look forward to every year around this time.” Many can relate to having a tradition for their individual family.

Overall, people can certainly appreciate the traditions they share with their families. Whether that means moving an elf around the house or having a big family dinner on a night of Hanukkah, they are something families look forward to each year. When families share these special moments this holiday season, they should also think of how their traditions came to be and how they will live on for many years to come.