For most, the holidays are a time for joy and a way to reunite with the ones you love and care for. However, as traditions have faded in favor of simplicity, it seems that people have lost the true meaning behind the holidays, leading to a nostalgic association with the past and another check on the polluted calendar.
The feeling of nostalgia is commonly defined as an affection for the past seen during times of great grief, crisis, or stress. So it makes sense that as we grow older this trend has become substantial over time with the many responsibilities which are adopted through the teenage experience.
Because of Christmas and its many sensory triggers, such as the bright lights strung along house tops, the smell of homemade cookies, and the echoes of brassy holiday music, many are brought back to a simpler time of childhood. This nostalgia is used as a way to counter feelings of loneliness and promote a sense of community within lives by drawing on memories of the past filled with family and friends.
Due to social media’s accessibility, these feelings have become greatly popularized and shared online leading to this rising trend.
The real reason for why the holidays are so special are the sacrifices made to create special memories. LSE English teacher Casey Morrison said one of her strongest holiday memories is snowy Christmas after her family moved from Texas to Ohio.
“Waking up to a genuine ‘white Christmas’ was pure magic. We got sleds, but the lesson I took away, especially now as a parent, is the value of shared time,” Morrison said.. “My dad didn’t just give us a gift; he gave us his hours, spending all morning on a hill in the snow. Now, as a parent, I understand that the most cherished holiday moments aren’t generated by the items we buy; they’re created by the time, energy and intentional effort we invest in simply being present with my own children.”
When we are allowed to take a step back we see that the greatest gift for someone we love is our unwavering presence. Christmas over time has grown more and more commercialized leading children to focus on the temporary gifts given but the special moments spent with family and friends are never to be taken away.
“It all comes down to the rituals and the wonder- my children are young and still believe in the magic of Christmas,” Morrison said. “For me, it is all about creating those core memories and keeping that magic alive as long as I can for my boys. Showing up and putting in the effort for your family is what makes everything so special.”
The thing which makes Christmas so much more memorable is the innocence held within it. Unlike Morrison, many parents have found the effort needed to keep the whimsical magic of Christmas alive a chore rather than an opportunity to create special memories for their own children like their parents did.
When this wonder deteriorates year by year the holidays turn from a time of memories to the materialistic possessions kids do and don’t have pushed by major corporations willing to make a quick buck at anyone’s expense.
“The challenge is preventing things from spiraling into excess. To help contain the wishlist, we differentiate between a ‘must-have,’ and ‘nice-to-have’ items, which might be smaller stocking stuffers or “needed” items (clothing, books, etc.),” Morrison said.
By setting a standard and expectation for Christmas, kids don’t have to worry about what they will and won’t get. They can live in the moment rather than a seeping sense of dread to see what will be in their presents under the tree.
If we want to preserve our fondness towards Christmas we must come to an understanding of the great lengths our parents and grandparents are willing to go in order to make them special.
“I really enjoy all of the craziness of Christmas. The only stress that I would say is an issue is time.” Morrison said “With young children, you suddenly realize that Christmas Day is only 24 hours long, and you have multiple sets of grandparents and extended family all rightly eager for their share of that precious time.”
Many times people must set aside their comfort and ideal Christmases for themselves so that their own children can see and experience Christmas with extended family. Along with this, parents, while sometimes not saying it, have to put up with relatives that may hold contrasting political views, sports teams, and beliefs. Despite all of this they are willing to set this all aside for their greatest gift to their children.
