Indonesian feasts, Hanukkah candlelight, Las Posadas songs and Diwali Rangoli brighten the winter season at Bellaire, where students honor traditions that bring warmth, faith and family into their homes.

For junior Liat Lutfak, Hanukkah is more than eight nights of gifts and candles, it’s a celebration of family and togetherness.

“Every night we gather and light the menorah,” Lutfak said. “My family also hosts gatherings with my cousins. Everyone comes over, and we celebrate with food and games. There’s always latkes sizzling in the kitchen, the smell of fresh sufganiyot and a table full of dreidels and gifts for the kids. We share stories about past Hanukkahs, and it feels like the whole room is filled with warmth and history.”

Liat Lutfak

Junior Liat Lutfak celebrates Hanukkah with her family. They all wear blue to show their holiday spirit and embrace Hanukkah traditions.

Her family traditions include visiting her grandmother’s house, saying prayers over the menorah, and playing dreidel, a spinning top game that has become a favorite among her cousins.

“Hanukkah is about gathering — celebrating our history but also looking forward to what’s ahead,” Lutfak said. “I’ve been celebrating it since I was a kid, and for me, it’s always been a time to connect with family, remember our traditions, and feel a sense of continuity. As I’ve gotten older, it’s also become a moment to reflect on what these traditions mean to me personally and how I want to carry them forward.”

While Lutfak celebrates with candlelight and song, other students such as senior Thomas Darmodjo mark the season with Indonesian flavors and familiar family traditions around the Christmas tree.

“We usually celebrate by going to a family friend’s house on Christmas Day,” Darmodjo said. “There’s usually about four or five families there, and we make smore’s, eat a bunch of Indonesian food and play board games like Monopoly.”

While his family celebrates with a mix of modern and traditional customs, faith remains central to their festivities.

“We always go to midnight Mass after dinner,” Darmodjo said. “It’s special because it reminds us of why we’re celebrating — to celebrate our faith — and it’s a time when we all come together.”

While Christmas tables fill up across Bellaire, other homes sparkle with diyas and bursts of color for Diwali. For sophomore Aarya Joshi, the season shines through Nepali tradition.

“I celebrate Tihar, which is basically the victory of good over evil,” Joshi said. “Diwali is the third day, when we do a pooja to welcome the goddess of prosperity, Lakshmi, into our house.”

The Joshi family’s home brightens with candles and most importantly with rangoli which are intricate designs made of colored flowers placed at the doorstep to welcome blessings.

Aarya Joshi

Sophomore Aarya Joshi showcases her finished rangoli, a project that took her some time to complete. “I had a lot of fun creating the design and bringing it to life,” Joshi said.

“Rangoli is a decoration, but it has a deep religious meaning,” Joshi said. “I’m usually the one who makes it every year, and since I love art, I feel like it’s a new art challenge for me every year.”

But beyond the lights and rituals, Joshi said her favorite memories come from moments of laughter around the table.

“Playing cards with my family during Diwali is one of our biggest traditions,” Joshi said. “It’s something simple, but it always brings us together.”

While Joshi’s family celebrates through light and design, junior Madeline Ramirez honors her faith with the vibrant Mexican tradition of Las Posadas, a nine-day reenactment of Mary and Joseph’s search for shelter before the birth of Jesus.

“In America, we usually do it inside the church,” Ramirez said. “People dress up as Mary, Joseph, and the Reyes Magos and walk through asking for a place to stay. But in Mexico, we go house to house singing and carrying candles, and people give us food afterward.”

For Ramirez, the heart of the season is simple but also deeply personal.

Madeleine Ramirez

Junior Madeleine Ramirez’s siblings pose in costume during Las Posadas, a cherished Christmas tradition in their family. They helped celebrate the event with festive outfits.

“When it comes to Latino families, it’s everyone: grandparents, parents, cousins,” Ramirez said. “We all help make tamales and share food. Christmas, to me, is about being with family. Some of my favorite memories are late night tamalada sessions where everyone is crowded in the kitchen, laughing, music playing in the background. That’s what makes it special for me.”

Though their celebrations differ, each student finds the same joy in connection, in gathering with loved ones, sharing food and keeping faith at the center of the season.