December is a month for family, frost, and food. The latter is quite often the favorite for many UC High students, especially those with traditional recipes, allowing  families to share tasty food.

For Sophomore Samantha Stein, Christmas brings one thing to mind: tamales. “It’s a family tradition that goes back a long time. Both my grandparents were from Mexico, so it has been around forever. My mom, grandma, and I make them together without a recipe,” she said.

According to the National Public Radio website, “[Tamales] are part of the traditional Mexican celebration of las posadas, which commemorates Mary and Joseph’s search for shelter before the birth of Jesus” (npr.org).  With San Diego being so close to the border, many UC High students enjoy tamales during the winter season, including Stein.

The recipe is fairly simple, and shows the closeness and traditional aspect of familial recipes in Stein’s family. Stein said, “All we do is buy masa and then spread it on a corn husk. Then we put a piece of green pepper and olive in it, and roll it up. You just steam them until the masa is cooked.” The recipe doesn’t include measurements anymore, as it has been passed down through her family and taught from generation to generation.

Freshman Boss Lee also enjoys a culinary Christmas treat. “My uncle always makes crab soup,” he said.  “It tastes really good, especially because it’s hot food on a cold day in the winter,” he explained.  There’s nothing better than hot soup warming you up on a cold 60-degree San Diego day.

One American holiday favorite is fudge. Sophomores Rebecca McConnell and Aubrey Omahen enjoy this chocolatey confection when the weather gets cold. “Fudge is definitely the number one pick-me-up for any problems you might be having,” said McConnell.  Omahen added, “When you smell the aroma of freshly baked fudge in the evening, your whole day is brightened.” This tasty treat is enjoyed by many and also makes for a great holiday gift for friends and family.

For many, food has found its way to the top of wish-lists this year.  Along with being a great gift, holiday foods are a great way for families to come together and share passed-down recipes. Whether it’s tameles or crab soup, holiday foods bring people closer.