As Christmas ends and the new year comes around, families around Guam are getting ready to celebrate in their unique styles.
Vibe sat with three teens who incorporate their own unique cultural traditions during Christmas festivities.
Many families embrace different traditions that celebrate the beginning of a new year, whether they are cultural or specific to their family.
One family that celebrates the new year in a special way is the Flores family. Every year, Nico Flores and his family take their spots on their roof to watch the fireworks.
They don’t keep the tradition to themselves. They also invite close friends to their home to watch fireworks with them. And because the fireworks start at midnight, a small group of friends are invited to sleep over.
“It’s always been a personal favorite tradition just because the whole family goes up to the roof together,” said Nico Flores.
Having everyone together allows them all to reflect upon the past year’s memories. “I, without a doubt, would love to continue this tradition with my family,” he said.
Addie Cruz
Like the Flores family, Addie Cruz and her family enjoy fireworks during New Year’s Eve. But instead of watching the fireworks, the Cruz family enjoys lighting them up.
In the days leading up to New Year’s Eve, the Cruz family makes it a point to buy as many small fireworks and sparklers as they can.
Then when the time comes and the big fireworks are exploding in the sky, family members light up theirs on the street. Addie Cruz said she enjoys the tradition and wants to continue it into the future.
Some families, like Joshua Chun’s, celebrate the new year with cultural traditions.
Joshua Chun holds one of the red envelopes he received on New Year’s.
Their Korean tradition has been passed down from one generation to another and it involves the family’s children bowing to their elders and wishing them good luck.
In return, the children in the family are given red envelopes full of money.
“I enjoy this tradition because my grandparents get happy, but especially because I get the money,” said Joshua Chun.
