Pictured is the Rev. Luke Fodor's tabletop manger set out for Christmas. Submitted photo

The holiday season is now upon us and with it comes plenty of traditions.

Families and individuals all celebrate in their own ways, and various community leaders shared their traditions and memories in honor of the season.

The Rev. Luke Fodor has a favorite holiday tradition that he shares with his family every year that involves a gift from one of his church members. However, he said he has learned of other traditions that are popular around this area that he also enjoys.

“Nothing says tradition like the holidays,” Fodor said. “We all have those guarded family customs of what we do or eat around the holidays. Since coming to this community, I have discovered many Christmas traditions I never knew existed … such as Swedish sausage called Korv or lutefisk or the Sicilian custom of the feast of the seven fishes. These are national, cultural traditions brought from the old country … many of which are forgotten there, but survive here. But there are other smaller, familial customs, which sustain some. A parishioner shared one of her family traditions with us — by giving us the special gift of a tabletop manger, some straw and some instructions. So now my family starts out the Advent season by setting up the creche scene with an empty manger. Totally empty … not just missing the baby Jesus, but also the straw. In our family, each time we do something nice or good — what our Jewish brothers and sisters call a mitzvah, we get to place a piece of straw in the manger. Some years the baby Jesus has so much straw it feels like a feather bed and other years, he sleeps on the hard, bare wood of the manager.”

Fodor said this tradition offers the opportunity to be gracious to one another, especially after the baby Jesus takes his place in the manger, be it barren or full.

“On Christmas morning, it is time to place the baby in the manager and if things seem pretty bare, we offer each other the opportunity to give the gift of grace to each other,” he said. “As much as our good deeds do create space for grace, on Christmas, we witness that reminder that it is through the Christ-child that God embraces our vulnerability and grants us the grace to receive God into our lives — whether we have lots of straw or only a little. All of life is a gift and it is to be celebrated. God always provides that means for that celebration.”

Dr. Kevin Whitaker, Jamestown Public Schools superintendent, has a light-focused tradition that brings joy to his family at Christmas.

“It’s pretty simple,” Whitaker said. “We just load up the family in the car and drive around and look at Christmas lights for a few hours. We’ll take anybody who’s around. My mother-in-law, my kids, parents, in-laws, anybody. We’ve been doing that since the girls were little — one is 23 and one is 19 now.”

Whitaker said he does this with his family on Christmas Day. He said he particularly enjoys light displays that anyone puts time into.

“I just love seeing the time and craftsmanship that goes into the designs,” he said. “We just kind of drive around and see what we can find.”

Whitaker said he greatly enjoys being part of the school system during the holidays because it makes the holiday season seem that much brighter.

“It’s so great to be associated with a school district because every year, there are kids that sing in holiday concerts and orchestra events, and all sorts of giving occurs through various groups,” he said. “It’s such a positive, happy time of year as a result.”

Jamestown Mayor Eddie Sundquist said he enjoys the holiday because he can spend time with loved ones.

“For me, Christmas is less about traditions, the trees, lights, gifts and more about family,” he said. “Being able to slow down everyday life and to be family, reflect and recognize how wonderful people are and how resilient our community can be.”