QUESTION:
The annex "family" continues some of their traditions in the annex despite terrible conditions and danger. What traditions would you do your very best to preserve despite trying times? Why? Try and be specific. For example, the "family" celebrated Hannukah with the menorah, but it was important to Anne to preserve the tradition of giving gifts, so she crafted her own.
Student #1 If I had to be in the secret annex one tradition that I would do my very best to preserve despite trying times would be Christmas. I love celebrating Christmas. It plays a major role in my religion too. It always brings joy to me and my family. Christmas is a time of giving so I would probably try to do what Anne did and make my own presents it I had too. On Christmas my family does a lot of the same things Anne’s family does. We play Christmas music, which is just like Anne singing, and we give presents. So as you can see this holiday means a lot to my family and we would do our best to keep it going even in hard times!
Responses to Student #1:
1. i love celebrating Christmas too. It is my favorite holiday and and it means a lot to my family too.#2
Student #2 I would try to bring Christmas back in that kind of time. It is a good holiday for people to celebrate. I don’t know what I would do to make presents, but I would figure something out. And it is cool because of all the made decorations and presents, also quality time with your friends and family. Everyone loves it if you believe in it.
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Student #3
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Student #4
The annex "family" continues some of their traditions in the annex despite terrible conditions and danger. Some of the traditions I would do my very best to preserve despite trying times would be as follows. First of all, I would do exactly what Anne did and make the best of everything we have, only to give everyone presents. That would keep me busy, and it would show the other "relitives" that I care. I would also try and do everything the same as old times. I would do this because it would bring back old, happy memories which would make everyone a bit happier. I would make everyone sing along to the Hanukkah songs as well. This would hopefully make us all feel a bit closer. Overall, I would basically just try and get everyone to have a good time together with no arguments. This would prove that we can all get along and everything is not as bad as it seems.
Responses to Student #4:
1. I really like the idea of giving gifts, to take up time. I would also show that I care. Keeping things the same would be good, but it would also make me very sad. I'm not Jewish, but if I was, I would also make them sing the Hanukkah song. Otherwise, we would just sing Christmas songs. I agree that having no arguments would make thing seem just a little bit better. ~#18~
2.I agree with you on such an act of selflessness. Although I have a recommendation to keep spirits high during the holidays. If you have an uncle that smokes (hypothetically speaking) and you just happen to spend the holidays with a bunch of Jewish people in a secret annex, make sure he doesn’t light his cigarette using the menorah. (#20)
§tudent #5
I think that everyone would agree with me, but the holiday that I would preserve, would be Christmas. I would like to preserve Christmas because it is the best of all of the holidays (at least that’s what I think!). Christmas can be kept alive even in the worst of situations. If I have to stay in a secret place where I cant make a noise, I would at least have a little tree with little candles or lights on it. And I would do the same thing Anne did for presents, do the best I could.
Responses to §tudent #5:
1. Yea I would probable do the same thing. #13
Student #6
If I would probobly keep the tradition of Christmas, just like everyone else. It is the best holiday and makes everyone feel happy, especially when they are getting their gifts and singing Christmas carols. I am Catholic, so it's quite mandatory to do it every year, just like the Franks even if it is in the worst conditions. I would also like to bring back the tradition of giving gifts, just like Anne. I love getting gifts and I can never wait to get them. I would also like to bring back the tradition of Thanksgiving because I think everyone deserves a chance to give thanks to what they have, even if they don't have much, like the Franks. Easter is my last tradition I would preserve and I preserve easter because I am Catholic and Easter is a major holiday. I would also keep other religious holidays as well.
Responses to Student #6:
1. I would try to keep as much of my religion alive as possible and make the best of things. I would miss many traditions too like Halloween. I would miss celebrations with my school and church too.
Student #7
If I lived in a secret annex like Anne’s family did and were in the same situation as her, then I’d probably be like Anne although maybe not as positive. Anne’s personality changed a lot in this scene and she really tried to cheer her family and friends up when all of them were moping. I thought it was really nice of her to find presents for each and every secret annex member. Mr. Dussel even sounded surprised when Anne said she had a present for him. I think it was extremely thoughtful. She really tried to be nice to her mother too and I totally think it was a good change in her character. Anne even cheerfully sang the Hanukkah Song and I don’t think I would’ve been able to be THAT positive. I think I would only be cheerful enough to give presents but Anne was just amazing how she did that. I don’t celebrate Hanukkah like Anne does, but if it was a different holiday, I think the most I could’ve done was to try and make my family happy. I think Anne was kind of brave and nice to her family in that scene. Truthfully, I’m not always that positive so I definitely wouldn’t have been able to be exactly like Anne but I think I could have been a little like her. One thing is for sure though, I would NOT miss a family tradition and I would’ve tried to make it seem like all the other past years to the best of my ability for my family like Anne. I would do it for my family because I love my family and I’m sure Anne did it to show how much “Good Anne” (that always hid inside) cared about all the other people living in the Secret Annex. I’m sure she loved her family a lot too.
Responses to Student #7:
1. I agree with you. I would try to stay positive and make my family happy and comfortable. Even if I couldn't do that much I could at least show them I cared. I wouldn't miss a family tradition either. Keeping those traditions like past years makes things feel better and more comfortable. #17
Student #8 My religion is catholic so I would do my best to preserve the biggest holidays like Christmas and Easter because they are very important to Catholic people. On christmas we would do our best to try to celebrate it normally with presents but really focus on the fact that it's Jesus's birthday and it is the time that we need him and god the most. Easter would be important to celebrate because it's the day he rose from the dead into heaven. We would then pray for peace and celebate him rising from the dead. At other religious holidays we would also try to at least pray for peace and the end to this terrible war. Even if times were bad I would do my best like Anne did to celebrate and have fun with the holidays.
Responses to Student #8:
1. I am catholic too, so those are good celebrations to keep while in the annex. I also like your reasoning when you said that it is a time to focus on Jesus. These two holidays are also good because they are for praying and when your in hiding you have to pray that nobody finds you. student #19
2. I agree with you. Easter and Christmas are the most important holidays in the religion. And I also think praying would help.- student 12
Student #9 I would try to bring back Christmas because it’s my families bigest holiday of the year and we all get together Christmas eve night and talk about our year and we always make spaghetti. Another thing we do which we wouldn’t be able to do is watch our two favorite movies, one on Christmas eve and one on Christmas day. On Christmas day my brother comes waks up super early in the morning, opens my door like a flash of lighting and comes storming into my room and grabs me and wakes me up. Even though he’s older then me he always acts like a little kid when it comes to Christmas. I love Christmas not only because there’s presents and a big tree and many many decorations, I love that my family and I get very close at this time of year. My brother and I are already very close but we get even closer to each other and to our parents. That’s why I would bring back Christmas in the annex.
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Student #10
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Student #11
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Student #12
I would try the most to still have an Easter because Easter is the biggest celebration in my religion. The Hanukkah celebration was a very big part of their religion and so I would try to have Easter. I would hid little eggs with candy around the place and have everyone look for the eggs.
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Student #13If I was in the secret annex and I could celebrate a holiday I would pick either Christmas or Thanksgiving. I would pick Christmas because I like waking up and getting presents then going over to my grandparents’ house. But, Thanksgiving is good too because I get to see my whole family and we get to have a big turkey and sit down and talk and tell jokes. I look forward to it every year.
Responses to Student #13:
1. I whole-heartedly agree with what you are saying about Christmas and thanksgiving.#16
Student #14
Responses to Student #14:The traditions i would keep alive would be Christmas, Thanksgiving, and the Michigan Ohio State game. i would do whatevr it takes to make em' happen. i love all of these traditions because it brings the family together and makes you happy (except for if U of M loses). thanksgiving you all get together at the dinner table and feast on turkey while telling old stories. Christmas you get to recieve gifts from you're loved ones and give gifts to and watch them brighten up as they tear it open. the game is very emotional and i'm glad to see a tight game that hopefully will have the outcome we all want to see with Mchigan getting the W.
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Student #15
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Student #16 The annex "family" continues some of their traditions in the annex despite terrible conditions and danger. I would preserve Christmas because even though your rich or poor you can still celebrate it with everything you got. I always give presents to every one who I care about and I will do this even if I am broke or if I have to make the stuff out of my bare hands. Some people do this same thing and every person has a right to celebrate there own special holiday how ever they want. I am not saying Christmas is the best but I like it the most.
Responses to Student #16:
1. #14 i agree with you. Christmas is a time when it doesn't matter if you are poor and don't give good gifts it's the thought that matters. you are with your family and no matter the money spent the best gift of all is the love. can i get an alleluia.
Student #17
I think one of the traditions I would keep alive if I were in those conditions is Christmas. Christmas is always a holiday that brings some cheer and warmth into everyone’s hearts. I think it would make me feel a little better if we celebrated it. I think I’d try to keep the tradition of having a big family meal together at Christmas alive. Doing something that you’re used to might make that kind of situation seem more normal. Doing something you’re used to can also make you feel more comfortable.
Responses to Student #17:
1. I agree with the whole Christmas thing. My family has very special traditions with Christmas. When you said that Christmas brings warmth to everyone's hearts, I agreed with that too. (#1)
2. (#26) I think Christmas is a good time with family even in the worst times.
Student #18
If I was ever in that situation, I don't know what I would do. Since I am Catholic, Christmas is very, important. I would miss the tree very much, but I guess I could survive without it. I think we would just try to keep up the tradition of having all my family there, and to light the Advent wreath at dinner. However much I would like to have a nice juicy ham, and white, creamy eggnog, I know that is unreasonable. It would be cool to get some make-shift presents like Anne gave to her family, I wouldn't depend on it. I would try to do things as much as I could, to remember happy times. Basically, as long as we are all safe and sound, and my brothers and I were getting along, that would be enough for me.
Responses to Student #18:
1. I definitly agree with you here. I would miss everything about christmas as well. And, i would also try to do everything to keep the holiday spirits up. As long as everyone is getting along and having a good time, nothing else matters. #4
2. I agree with you that we could deal without the holiday decorations and think of our family more. And I think it's so nice that you think that as long as your brothers and your family are safe and getting along, it would be enough. That is so nice. I think that it would be fun to give those thoughtful presents to her friends and family and even though they weren't new, I liked how she made a good attempt to cheer up her family and I think that's what you're kind of saying so I think that's really sweet. (From Student 7)
3. I would try to keep Christmas preserved too. I completely agree with wanting a big feast. Since that would be unreasonable, I would make some sort of crack that would make my family smile. I would want Christmas to be preserve for family purposes too. Seeing my family together would make me so happy. Maybe having this celebration could get my families' spirits up.
Student #19 Christmas would be the holiday that I would try to preserve while staying in the annex. This day is a big part of my life because I celebrate it every year. Not having
Christmas would be like not having a birthday one year. Not only is Christmas a time for gifts, it is also a very big day for my religion. December 25th is Jesus’ birthday, celebrating this is very important. We also receive presents that are bought from a store, but my family and I would probably have to make our just like Anne made hers for her family and friends. Every Christmas night we have a large feast and it involves many, many different types of food. In the annex though, our dinner would have as much food but it would still be a Christmas dinner. My family loves to celebrate Christmas and so do I because it brings us all happiness and joy to our lives. Christmas is one of the most important holidays to my family and I, and skipping Christmas would be extremely sad.
Responses to Student #19:
1. I agree, skipping Christmas would be extremely sad, but for "extreme" times, sometimes you need to take "extreme" measures. But I would risk a little just to have some Christmas spirit, I too would try to make presents like Anne did.
§tudent #5
2. I definitely agree. I would always choose Christmas as my first choice to keep alive. It is also one of the major days in my holiday because I'm Catholic. I love to receive presents and wake up to the smell of bacon, eggs, and eggnog. We have a large feast and the best part of Christmas would probobly be the spirit.
Student #20
Responses to Student #20:I never really have had any traditions worth keeping alive at such times, except for Christmas. I guess Christmas because you can’t go trick or treating at Nazi houses. They might give you a grenade, but at least it’s something. Thanksgiving wouldn’t be the same without all the food and in a secret annex it would be hard to keep the smell of turkey inside. Not to mention the fact that you can’t really get a turkey with coupons either. If you raise it, well that’s your problem because they’re evil. The only good side about their evilness is that you will feel no shame or remorse when you cut its head off. Some people laugh when doing so, but I take comfort in knowing that I am not in a secret annex with such a maniac. So, in conclusion of eliminating impossible holidays, Christmas is the only one that survives.
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Student #21 If I lived in the annex with the family I couldn’t ever forget to celebrate Christmas because I get together with my family and we all share gifts and smiles. My cousins from Roscommon come down and help us celebrate as well. I would do the same thing that Anne did, try to make the best out of a lot of not so good things. I love making people happy and feel good so that would be one way that I could achieve that. I don’t think that my dad would be too surprised if I did that. Also I would do it to make everyone a little bit better. I’d also start singing Christmas carols and make everyone feel just a little bit closer. Then I would probably just start saying what I’m thankful for and what we should all be thankful for. Christmas is a very important holiday for my family because it is one out of very few times where we all get together and share our gifts and smiles.
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Student #23 In dreadful matters, like of which Anne was in, I would try to make best of what I have and make sure to remember the traditions and regular things that I did back where I lived before. My family is extremely busy over the week, with the extracurricular activities, work, chores and us kids we aren’t able to have regular sit down dinners. Because of this my parents put on our calendar certain days that we have to sit down for dinner as a family and eat together. I would make sure, if I lived as Anne and her “family” does, to have family dinners, every day. This is important to me because you don’t know if that is the last day you’re going to be together with your family or not. You aren’t sure if this is the last time you will see they’re smiling faces again. Another thing I would make sure to keep is Christmas. This is my absolute favorite holiday!!! I love that the entire family gets together and enjoys each others company. It’s a great time to remember what you are thankful for and to enjoy life. If I lived like Anne once did I would make sure to add this to my year and make the best out of our situation.
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Student #24
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Student #25
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Student #26 If I was in the secret annex then I would try to dtill have christmas. Just like Annes family who celebrated a holiday in the worst of times I want the same. If I could only celebrate one holiday it would be christmas because you can be happy with family.
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1. Yes, I love Christmas cause its such a happy time of year. And your family can all be so tight and Christmas spreading joy to everyone.
~#9~
Student #27
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Student #30
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Student #31 If I was in the Annex, life would be very tough. The holiday I would want to preserve was Thanksgiving. I know there would probably not be too much to be thankful for, but I would find something. I would build a feast out of odds and ends. Much like Anne, I would make a spectacular holiday. I would also want to keep preserve Christmas. I would try as hard as I could to make presents, much like Anne. Again, I know that there wouldn’t be very many things to do anything, but much like Anne, I would do anything to make my family smile in harsh times.
Responses to Student #31
1.#23 That's great thinking. I mean what could you be thankful for during that time? is probably what all of the people in "The Diary of Anne Frank" are thinking. But when Thanksgiving comes around they would really have to think hard and be thankful that they have one another and it might just boost their spirits. : )
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