Christmas traditions, either making minion cookies or setting up mischievous elves, it may sound unique, but to some it’s what makes Christmas, Christmas.

Christmas, a time where cold crunchy snow breaks under your boots as you walk to your family’s houses. A time when temperatures are below 20 degrees and hot chocolate is made.

Little ice formations form around the edges of the window and a tree is put up with lights and decorations. People gather around with presents thanking everyone.

The sound of the house cracking at the wind and children’s laughter fill the background.

Everyone has their traditions, especially English teachers Kerri Jass and Jennifer Sayasane.

For Jass it’s having everyone sleep over. She meets up with her in laws and goes to church, then goes home to spend time with family. After a long day she sleeps over with seven of her families kids.

Jass also takes her kids daughter 13, Sara and a son 10, Ben to the symphony center in downtown Chicago. Jass sets up mischievous elves and watches as her children come down and come see what they’ve done. Jass also gives back on Christmas to less fortunate families.

“We always adopt a family through our church,” Jass said.

This all wouldn’t be Christmas for Jass without these traditions.

Jennifer Sayasane has her traditions too. Sayasane’s favorite tradition is cookies. She makes a  bunch of unique themed cookies every Christmas. They don’t even have to be Christmas themed. She once made minion cookies. Another tradition was when her kids were young they would write letters.

“I would write Santa a letter to bring gifts a day early,” Sayasane said.

She would do this with her three kids, her dog, and her husband. Then in the evening, she would go to mass and go to uncle’s house with her three sisters, mom, dad and cousins. Then Christmas night at aunt’s house, while they sit around together eat cookies and sing.