Christmas Stories
LeTourneau University is home to over 100 international students from across the globe. From Mongolia to Mexico, a beautiful variety of students and cultures is represented on campus, and each country has their own Christmas and holiday traditions. We spoke with some of these delightful students to learn what Christmas looks like back home for them!
Evita Vincy, India
English Language & Literature Major, Senior
How do you celebrate Christmas back home?
“Christmas in India is not extravagantly celebrated like in the USA because the Christian community is rather small compared to other religions. Regardless, most people decorate their homes with lights and a Christmas tree. Christian households hang a foldable paper star that can be wrapped around a bulb so it looks like a shining star. This signifies the star the three wise men followed to find Jesus. Another tradition we have is going to church on Christmas Eve, followed by church services at midnight, early morning, or late morning for Christmas Day.”
What are some traditional Christmas foods from your country?
“We cook a variety of foods ranging from mutton biryani, chicken 65, mutton gravy, brinjal gravy, curd rice, pickle, payasam, plum cakes, and banana cakes."
What is something you enjoy about Christmas back home?
“I really enjoy the fact that we take time to go to church on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day because it allows you to reflect on what Christmas is all about and helps you refocus on Christ during this time of the year instead of being swept away by worldly things.”
Juanes Aguirre, Colombia
Aviation Mgmt. w/ Pro Flight Major, Sophomore
How do you celebrate Christmas back home?
“We gather together as a family and celebrate all night long. We do not go to sleep, but rather open gifts at midnight.”
What are some traditional Christmas foods from your country?
“In my unbiased opinion, Colombians have the best Christmas food. We eat fried cheese balls called buñuelos and a delicious dessert called natilla.”
What is something you enjoy about Christmas back home?
“I enjoy how everyone forgets about their problems and feels no shame in eating like a pig during Christmas.”
What is another special holiday you celebrate in your country? What is that holiday like?
“Colombians party all the time. However, apart from the eighteen national holidays we have in a year, I would say every Colombian soccer match counts as an important (if not the most important) holiday.”
Adriana Cisneros Emerson, Venezuela
Communication Major, Junior
What are some traditional Christmas foods from your country?
"Contrary to what Juanes erroneously believes, it is Venezuelans who have the best Christmas food. This is the one time of the year when the family gets together and argues over what the right way to cook this and that is. It’s lovely to see. Our traditional Christmas dish includes hallacas (it’s not a tamal), pork, ham, Venezuelan ham bread, and chicken salad."
What is your favorite Christmas song?
"All I want for Christmas is You."
What is your favorite Christmas memory from when you were a child?
“Before my country’s economy collapsed, the streets and the malls were decorated with Christmas lights, and it was something beautiful to see as a child. A lot of people would go Christmas shopping, and you could feel happiness in the air. As the situation grew worse, Venezuelans stopped looking forward to Christmas as much; I always look back in time and feel nostalgic when I think of Christmas in the early 2000s, going out with my parents, decorating the house, and playing with fireworks my dad would buy for me.”
Alejandro Lucas, Spain
Computer Science Major, Freshman
What is something you enjoy about Christmas back home?
“I really enjoy spending time with my family talking about everything. We don't get to see each other much even though we live in the same city, and Christmas is when we all see each other again.”
What is your favorite Christmas song?
“We Wish You a Merry Christmas -The Disney Holiday Chorus.”
What is your favorite Christmas memory from when you were a child?
“I remember once they gave us sweet coal for dinner saying that we had behaved badly that year and that we were not going to have presents. Then, my cousins and I got so angry that we almost didn't eat dinner. I also remember when I used to open the presents under the Christmas tree with excitement.”
Celine Wittmer, Germany
Education Major, Special Classification
How do you celebrate Christmas back home?
“Christmas in Germany is celebrated from the 24th-26th. On Christmas Eve, families stay with the closest family members. On the first Christmas Day, we usually have lunch with aunts, uncles, cousins and grandparents. On the second Christmas Day, we meet other family members or friends and have another lunch or dinner. In Germany, we have a Christmas tree, which we decorate–like in the U.S. We bake cookies for Christmas and we sing Christmas songs, mostly German Christmas songs but also American songs, like Jingle Bells.”
What is something you enjoy about Christmas back home?
“I really enjoy spending time with my family. I love to eat good food with them and talk about the past year. We like to go on walks in nature after we have food and enjoy the cold air. I love how my home city is decorated during Christmas and the big Christmas Market in the city center next to the main church.”
What is your favorite Christmas memory from when you were a child?
“My favorite Christmas memory is the time I had with my grandparents. Since they are in heaven now, I appreciate these memories even more. Spending time with them and eating with them will always be one of my favorite childhood memories ever.”
Sereena Balid, Zambia
Mechanical Engineering Major, Senior
How do you celebrate Christmas back home?
“We usually go to church on Christmas morning, have a special lunch together with family and friends, and spend the rest of the day together.”
What are some traditional Christmas foods from your country?
“Goat meat biryani (flavored rice with goat meat and different spices), fruit cakes, and donuts.”
What is something you enjoy about Christmas back home?
“I enjoy that Christmas is more about the focus on God and fellowship with loved ones instead of more materialistic things like presents.”
What is another special holiday you celebrate in your country? What is that holiday like?
“New Year’s. The celebration is similar to Christmas with church in the morning and a special lunch. And then we typically grill meat for dinner with friends and blow up fireworks.”
Pedro González, Mexico
Civil Engineering Major, Freshman
How do you celebrate Christmas back home?
“We have dinner together the night before Christmas with all the family.”
What are some traditional Christmas foods from your country?
“Usually, we have tamales and fruit punch.”
What is your favorite Christmas memory from when you were a child?
“I remember playing with fireworks on the street with my brothers when we were kids. That would be my favorite memory.”
What is another special holiday you celebrate in your country? What is that holiday like?
“September 16: The Mexican War of Independence. It is a commemorative day. You can find really good food and see some fireworks, as well as walk on the squares of the towns in Mexico.”
Samuel Kundt, China/Germany
Mechatronics Major, Freshman
What are some traditional Christmas foods from your country?
“From Germany, some traditional Christmas foods are gingerbread (Lebkuchen), often coated in chocolate or glazed, or including nuts such as almonds. And the German Christmas goose (Weihnachtsgans). The goose is usually stuffed with bread and vegetables or fruit and coated with a mixture of honey and spices and then baked in the oven.”
What is something you enjoy about Christmas back home?
"I enjoy the quietness. Christmas is not celebrated in China, where I spent most of my time living, so it is much quieter compared to other countries. There is less going on. This makes it more relaxing and calming to me.”
What is your favorite Christmas song?
“My favorite Christmas song would be the original German version of ‘Silent Night’ – “Stille Nacht, Heilige Nacht’”.
What is another special holiday you celebrate in your country? What is that holiday like?
“A special holiday in China, of course, is Chinese New Year. It is the celebration of the lunar new year. The best I can compare it to is a mixture of Thanksgiving and New Year's Eve, as during Chinese New Year, the family gets together and eats.”
Juyoung Yoon, South Korea
Global Trade Major, Junior
What is something you enjoy about Christmas back home?
“Every Christmas, I go to church, and take service. The Christmas worship is [more] special than other worships. Kids sing and dance with hymns. I just like [the] Christmas atmosphere since all the streets are full of Christmas carols.”
What is your favorite Christmas memory from when you were a child?
"I remember [one time] I got a present laid in my room [by the time] I woke up in the morning. And I enjoyed watching the Home Alone series on Christmas.”
What is another special holiday you celebrate in your country? What is that holiday like?
“The holiday I like the most in Korea is Seollal–which is celebrating Lunar New Year’s Day. I get to see all my close relatives and cousins, and we eat rice soup for breakfast. The special thing about Seollal is that younger people bow to older generations, and in return, they give an allowance to the younger generation. I like this holiday the most because I’ve always been in the position of getting [an] allowance. Most young Koreans like this holiday the most, for sure, and I like the vibes of Seollal too.”
Susuana Maame Sika Acquah, Ghana
Aero-Mechanical Engineering Major, Junior
How do you celebrate Christmas back home?
“We slaughter goats and chickens and throw big parties throughout December and January.”
What are some traditional Christmas foods from your country?
“Fufu with goat pepper soup, goat jollof rice, fried rice and chicken.”
What is your favorite Christmas memory from when you were a child?
“Going to the beach and playing in the sand while eating kebabs.”
What is something you enjoy about Christmas back home?
“We dance a lot and meet a lot of friends.”
Kigen Joseph Karani, Kenya
Mechanical Engineering Major, Freshman
How do you celebrate Christmas back home?
“My family alone doesn’t do anything special on Christmas day, but my church holds a vigil called Kesha, which is a time of praise and worship to celebrate Jesus.”
What is something you enjoy about Christmas back home?
“I enjoy the build-up to it. Some places set up trees and lights months in advance, while others wait till December, and it paints all my time in the city in a different light from the rest of the year. Things are absolutely beautiful in the Christmas season.”
What is another special holiday you celebrate in your country? What is that holiday like?
“Our independence day, aka Jamhuri Day, is a holiday we celebrate. It’s on the 12th of December, so it’s really close to Christmas. There are parades and singing, and there’s a public holiday. It’s really enjoyable.”
