As wintertime approaches, so do the festivities that the season brings, regardless of which holiday you choose to celebrate. The winter season has always been a time to celebrate with friends and family over food and laughter, but for many, the occasion is also marked with gift exchanges (not to mention the headaches over said gifts). We asked four students what their gift-giving traditions are, how and where they complete their shopping, and how they like to pick the perfect gifts.

Junior Domenic Nelson

Does your family have any gift-giving or holiday traditions? 

“My family has the tradition of waking up super-early for Christmas. And by super early, I mean 3 a.m. – we do not mess around in the Nelson household. After tearing open gifts and sharing some of that Christmas joy, we power-sleep until late morning.”

How are your shopping plans changing this year to covid-19? If at all? 

“A simple answer: pandemic does not get in the way of my Christmas Spirit— if it did, I would not be a Nelson.”

When do you like to complete your gift-buying? 

“Sometimes the desire for gift-giving spurs in the heat of the moment. So, if I want to get someone a gift, even if it is nanoseconds before Christmas— I will do what I can to get that gift. But, normally, I would get these gifts a week or so in advance.”

What’s the best gift you’ve ever received? 

“Probably the family time I have been able to get— it is truly amazing to spend time with your parents. If we are talking about a materialistic gift, I would have to say a portable speaker.”

Junior Claire Topper

Does your family have any gift-giving traditions? 

“My family usually opens one gift each on Christmas Eve. We also all get each other at least one gift from Gardners Candies for Christmas.”

Where do you like to shop for gifts? 

“My family usually shops at places like Walmart, Kohls, and Target. We also shop online from Amazon.”

How are your shopping plans changing this year to covid-19? If at all? 

“This year we will just be doing online shopping.”

When do you like to purchase your gifts? 

“My family has always bought gifts early… some are even bought months before!”

Sophomore Aaron Johnson

Does your family have any gift-giving traditions? 

“Usually my family does a Secret Santa type of thing where we buy gifts for each other.”

When do you like to purchase your gifts? 

“This just depends on when I remember to buy gifts, so it changes.”

How do you find the right gift for the right person?

“I think about what I know about my family and what they like, and I buy them something they would be interested in.”

What’s the best gift you’ve ever received? 

“My airpods. I use them all the time to listen to music, so they are super useful.”

Freshman Ashleigh Aukerman

Does your family have any gift-giving traditions? 

“We open one present on Christmas Eve and it’s usually Christmas pajamas. The next day we open one present and wait a while before we open the next. [Later] we go to my church to help deliver the Christmas dinners.”

Where do you like to shop for gifts? 

“I would shop for gifts at places like American Eagle, Hollister, Vans, Macy’s, Target, and online.”

How are your shopping plans changing this year to covid-19? If at all? 

“They won’t change at all unless stores close down again.”

How do you find the right gift for the right person? 

I think about what things they like and I buy it for them. [For example] my friend likes One Direction so I would get something from there for them.”