With Christmas just around the corner, it seems as if everyone is preparing for the Christmas spirit. For Mexican-American students at Greeley West, that means it’s time to dust off some special Christmas traditions are.

For many Mexican families, Christmas is the time to make some delicious tamales. Tamales can be made in various ways. You can either make them as a desert such as a sweet tamale with some coffee. Or you can have the tamales with chicken a salsa verde, or the red chile with shredded pork. It just all depends on what your taste buds are feeling, sweet or salty. 

For junior Jgmyj Sanchez. few things top tamales for the holidays.  But there were a couple.  “Honestly Christmas is my favorite holiday, It’s not really about the gifts or anything,” Sanchez said. “It’s fresh being able to be around all your family and making gingerbread houses. Looking at the lights is honestly my favorite other than eating a ton of tamales.”

Some students follow the same traditions but they travel to Mexico to celebrate. “Traveling can be pretty boring at times but it’s all worth it when you get to see your family at the end,” junior Alonzo Ramirez said.

Ramirez believes that Christmas wouldn’t really be the same without getting to see family. “Christmas is way different over there but in a good way ya know? You still get to make tamales with the whole family. It’s fresh to see everyone come together and just laugh and make jokes,” Ramirez explained.

Ramirez has always liked Christmas. He thinks it gives people the chance to rest. “This time of year can help people get their minds off of Covid and things like that. You just want to have fun with family and friends ya know,” Ramirez said.