As fall winds down and the crisp air of winter starts to settle in, the holiday season casts a warm and enchanting glow upon millions worldwide. It’s the most wonderful time of the year. Here at Fieldston, students, especially upperclassmen, are eagerly counting the days until winter break begins, providing a well-deserved rest from the stress and anxiety of school. Along with that well-deserved break comes the enjoyment of well-established holiday traditions: baking gingerbread houses, watching Christmas movies and listening to holiday songs.
New York City lives up to its name during the Holidays and offers up endless treasures. For my family, that involves the giant Christmas Tree at Rockefeller Center on 50th Street and Fifth Avenue. Although it can be a pain to try and go when every tourist in the city is there along with us, the feeling of seeing the tree is incredible. It’s something that we’ve been doing since my brother and I were born and it’s one that we look forward to every year as the nights get shorter and the air gets colder.
The magnificent Bronx Botanical Gardens at the eastern tip of Mosholu Parkway displays an annual holiday train show, with dazzling little model sets of trains going through New York City landmarks capturing the attention of younger kids and captivating them with images that go beyond “The Polar Express.” If you are a train aficionado, like my brother, you’ll marvel at the realism of the “cool trains.”
Lastly, just walk. Just walk. Just walk in The City. Walking around the city during the holidays is an unmatched romantic motion. It’s extremely enjoyable to walk to wherever and see lights strung up in celebration of the holidays, to walk by brownstones decorated with statues of Santa and menorahs with their candles ablaze or to stroll down Fifth Avenue and see all the ornate and beautiful store displays.
Other Fieldston students shared their favorite holiday activities:
Skye Wu (Form VI):
“My favorite holiday activities include lugging home a massive pine tree to decorate, sledding, cooking with my dad and listening to classic holiday tunes. I also look forward to winter walks in the park with my mom drinking hot chocolate.”
Lily Saal (Form V):
“Watching holiday movies, specifically in flannel pajama pants, is my favorite holiday activity. My mom and I bake cookies and watch “Love Actually” every single year and my dad and I found a new favorite this year – “Daddy’s Home 2”.”
Adelaide Gorton (Form VI):
“Sleeping in on snow days, drinking hot chocolate and sitting near a cozy fire are my favorite holiday activities. While I don’t anxiously wait for Santa to visit my house every night on December 24th, I do enjoy some Chinese food and a movie.”
Alkis Karmpaliotis (Form V):
“My favorite holiday activities are watching movies with my friends and family (Love Actually is my personal favorite), shopping and exchanging presents. My parents and I usually go on a short trip over winter break, so I’m really looking forward to that as well”
As the city lights twinkle overhead and the sounds of carolers fill the air, remember that the holiday season in NYC is not just about the destinations but the journey itself – the laughter shared, the friendships deepened and the memories etched into the tapestry of your high school years. In this season of joy and wonder, may the spirit of New York City’s holidays stay with you long after the last string of lights is taken down.
