Long days on the beach turn into late nights around the fire as ice-cold lemonade turns into steaming hot chocolate. The everyday clothes go from shorts and sunglasses to pants and gloves while the weather drops about 30 degrees.  In Glenview, hot summer days at Flick and Roosevelt become movies at the Glen theatre. These are a few of the signals that winter has finally arrived, and the only thing getting students through the school day is knowing that shortly, a two-week break awaits them filled with plenty of holiday traditions or just time to relax.

Whether it’s finding the pickle on the Christmas tree or going out of town for a few days, students at South have a wide range of holiday traditions that make their winter break worth the long wait.

According to senior Allie Sonneborn, the two-week break for students is much needed.

“My favorite part about winter break is finally having some time to decompress,” Sonneborn said. “The period between Thanksgiving break and winter break is always crazy, so it’s a relief to have some time to relax.”

In an Oracle-conducted survey of 264 GBS students, 29 percent of students said they’re going out of town.  The top three places that students are traveling to are Florida, Wisconsin and Michigan, and many other students are headed all around the States.

Sophomore Jessica O’Young is going to Kentucky with her cousins for the first time to celebrate the holidays.

“Normally, the cousins from Kentucky come visit us,” O’Young said.  “We usually go skiing with my cousins the day after Christmas.”

By traveling, students say they are able to visit family and friends.  Senior Mirna Bazi is really looking forward to her winter break because her family lives outside of the mid-west.

“Instead of the usual, we’re spending each holiday somewhere else,” Bazi said.  “Christmas in California and New Year’s in Arizona.”

Besides traveling to different locations to enjoy their winter, many people choose to stay home and enjoy the cold and all Glenview has to offer.  From Christmas parties to hitting the stores downtown Chicago, students say that with plenty of things to do, winter break in Glenview will never be boring.

Senior Molly Campobasso said between decorating her Christmas tree and hanging out with family, she loves her annual Christmas party with her friends.

“It’s basically just when I have a lot of friends over and we do a Secret Santa or gift exchange sort of thing,” Campobasso said.  “We do it every year because Christmas is my favorite holiday.”

Unlike Campobasso, Sonneborn is starting a new tradition this year: Chrismukkah.  According to Sonneborn, her inspiration came from a TV show, and this being her first year, she felt it was a success.

“We ordered Chinese food, because [some] Jews eat that on Christmas, we had a gingerbread house decorating contest, and we played Dreidel,” Sonneborn said.  “Chrismukkah is a way to acknowledge both of [my parents’] traditions.”

Between the many different things going on over the holidays, Bazi and many other students believe the best part is the people you spend it with.

“My favorite part of winter break is being able to spend time with family and friends without the stress of school,” Bazi said.  “Your only focus is on your loved ones and those around you […] That makes the smallest moments memorable.”