Home lawmakers share their favourite Christmas, Hannukah, year-end traditions

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Late December, for many individuals, is a time for household and vacation cheer. It is no completely different for folk on Capitol Hill , which is at present a ghost city after lawmakers went dwelling to their varied districts to have fun their favourite end-of-year traditions.

For some, like Reps. Eric Burlison, R-Mo., and Byron Donalds, R-Mo., which means annual Christmas traditions with family members.

"So, Christmas Eve is Spanish bean soup and Cuban sandwiches," Donalds informed Fox Information Digital. "And Christmas Day we simply spend time, and Christmas night time shall be some basketball, some soccer, and perhaps a hearth."

Burlison described a "particular" Christmas scavenger hunt his mom places on for her grandchildren to search out of their stockings.

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The 2025 Capitol Christmas tree is seen on the West Garden of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on Dec. 7, 2025. (Mandel Ngan/AFP through Getty Photographs)

"After which we do Christmas bingo for our White Elephant items, and it will get fairly aggressive," Burlison smiled. "One of many humorous issues that occurs yearly is my brother will, no matter dwelling we're in, he'll steal one thing from the home after which throw it in as one of many items."

"You will find yourself opening it and you are like, ‘Oh, we've a vase identical to this, Oh, wait, that’s our vase!' It is so humorous. He does it on a regular basis."

Home Majority Chief Steve Scalise , R-La., informed Fox Information Digital his favourite Christmas custom is opening presents along with his youngsters and consuming Cajun fried turkey.

Home Majority Chief Steve Scalise throughout a information convention on the US Capitol in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2025. (Daniel Heuer/Bloomberg through Getty Photographs)

Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Texas, stated he all the time retains his religion shut on Christmas.

"The vacations all the time start with attending Christmas Mass and thanking God for the miracle of the start of Christ," Cuellar informed Fox Information Digital. "From there, it’s about being at dwelling with household — gathering across the desk, sharing home-cooked meals, and preserving traditions that carry everybody collectively."

In the meantime, Rep. Debbie Dingell, D-Mich., likes to share the end-of-year holidays along with her chosen household of buddies and neighbors.

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Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Texas, is seen within the U.S. Capitol on Tuesday, June 4, 2024. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Name, Inc through Getty Photographs)

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That features making and sharing Christmas cookies with those self same folks, in addition to "vacation dinner with my faculty roommates and vacation dinner with my poker group."

And Rep. Josh Gottheimer, D-N.J., stated Hanukkah and the remainder of the vacation season was about his family members as properly.

"The vacations are a particular time for me to have fun with my household — whether or not that is lighting the menorah with my youngsters, donating toys at native toy drives, or becoming a member of our group for tree and menorah lightings," Gottheimer stated.

Elizabeth Elkind is a politics reporter for Fox Information Digital main protection of the Home of Representatives. Earlier digital bylines seen at Each day Mail and CBS Information.