Christmas Traditions in Whittall House

28 December 2020Dale F, Whittall ‘21

As Christmas Break approached, Whittall House got ready for a couple of its annual traditions, and some new events Ms Pettit has created.

Mr. Gage, the Whittall Houseparent, has been actively trying to plan a safe and respectful Secret Santa gift exchange. He has had to cancel it in the past due to the boys taking some of the jokes with the gifts a little too far, but Mr Gage said at our advisor meeting that he thinks “We have a great group of boys this year” so he would like it to run as usual.

Of course, after this Secret Santa, Mr Gage likes to make his own little jokes and poke fun at everyone in the house (but specifically the seniors) in the form of his renowned Christmas poem. The jokes are always innocent, and give everyone a good laugh without making anybody uncomfortable; Mr. Gage knows where the line is and stays well within it.

The gifts usually stay between $10-$20 and consist of chocolate, a gift card, an inside joke, or if you’re Ryangwon K, Whittall ‘21 a bag of rice three years in a row. In case you dodn’t know Ryangwon well, rice is his “Go-to snack” when he can’t make it to dinner.

Ms Pettit also recently added her own tradition to the house, which gave the boys a comfortable afternoon in our home away from home. Cookie decorating and hot cocoa is a wonderful way to spend a cold Sunday afternoon in Whittall. A big thank you to Ms Pettit for this event!

Christmas is a wonderful time of year to spend with your loved ones and family, and the boys and houseparents in Whittall give us what Ahmad S, Whittall ‘21 described as a “second family we can rely on”. These traditions really help strengthen the bond between as we approach the winter solstice.

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a happy and safe holiday!

Dale F, Whittall ‘21

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