It’s that time of the year again. Sure, the holidays are always fun, but something about it feels a little routine, doesn’t it?The same food on the Thanksgiving dinner table, the Christmas tree in the same spot in the living room it has been every year. Maybe this is the year for you and your family to branch out. For some inspiration, here are some ways that three West High students personalize their holidays.

Family recipes can be a great tradition. It’s nice to have something so delicious passed down through who-knows-how-many generations. Evan Smith ‘16 is very fond of a dish started by his grandmother–eggs and dumplings. The dish is more or less what it sounds like.“It’s really creamy and soft,” Smith said. “It has chicken and peas, and it’s in a soup.” So, when planning your menu for the holidays, don’t be afraid to try something different!

One family  not afraid to do things differently is the Young family. Turkey is something you will never see on their Thanksgiving table.

“We always have some sort of meat,” said Caroline Young ‘17, “but never turkey.”

In addition, they never go on vacation. Instead, the Young family prefers a low-key holiday spent together.

Christmas is no different. They have never bought an actual Christmas tree.

Well, they did once. “We weren’t very fond of it,” Young recalled.

Instead, she and her family make use of anything they can find to make their Christmas tree. “It’s fun because we get to spend time together making it,” she said.

Having four siblings in the family has led to another family tradition: Secret Santa. It works just like any other Secret Santa, with each sibling draws the name of another sibling, and that’s who they have to get a gift for. Young said this tradition is especially nice because she and her siblings “don’t usually buy each other things.” So, when thinking of a family activity to do over the holidays, try something special and meaningful. You never know what it could turn into.

Other fun traditions can be spur-of-the-moment decisions. Such is the case for Ethan  Goers ‘18. It all started on a Thanksgiving three years ago. Goers and his father are both runners. Every Thanksgiving, there is a race known as the Legend of the Fall. “He told me I should do it,” Goers recalled. So, they got up early and ran it. The race is located near a Hy-vee store. So, on the way home, Goers suggested that they stop and buy a gallon of chocolate milk. “It was my idea to buy chocolate milk,” Goers said, “because chocolate milk is good.” Goers and his father have done so on every Thanksgiving since.