Everyone loves the Christmas holiday when they get to receive presents, but the real gift is seeing your family and friends all together.

Students love to see their families on Christmas whether it means traveling long distances or waiting for family to arrive.

One great part of Christmas is the family gathering, when family you haven’t seen in a long time visits you for the holiday.

“My family travels to see me every year for Christmas,” Annie Terry, senior, said. “I love to see my family because most of them live far away, and I don’t get to see them very often. The person I am most excited to see is my cousin, Olivia Davis. “She lives in Harrisonburg.”

“I get to see my family at some point over Christmas break but not always on the day,” Deborah Maxey, school librarian, said. “It’s nice to get together because I don’t get to see them a lot over the year, but it’s stressful to get everyone together. I am most excited to see my son, because he just moved to New Hampshire so I don’t see him much.”

“I don’t have to travel to see family because everyone we celebrate Christmas with lives close by,” Kylee Taylor, freshman, said. “I miss them because we don’t hang out often. I am very excited to see my aunt this year.”

“I get to see my family every year on Christmas,” Alexis Elder, freshman, said. “Some of my family travels to see me, and I love to hang out with them because they are so funny. I am most excited to see my sister this Christmas.

“My family sometimes travels to see me on Christmas, but I don’t ever travel,” Kervon Toliver, freshman, said. “It’s fun to have family together and eat and celebrate. I am most excited to see my sister.”

“On Christmas, my family travels to see us,” Eric Wilson, freshman, said. “I love to see them because they are fun. I am excited to see my sister this year.”