Ah, yes. It’s the most wonderful time of the year. Suburban houses are wrapped in bright lights, our favorite clothing stores display this year’s holiday collection, and seasonal treats fill everyone’s stomach. A picturesque image indeed—and one that couldn’t be further from reality.
Sure, peppermint bark is in, and plaid pajama pants are fifty percent off; yet, we teenagers freeze in preparation for another sleep-deprived week of stress. While we free up brain storage to study for our science test next Monday, it becomes more difficult to remember that we’re entering what is supposed to be the happiest season of all. As kids, we never ignored snowfall, and we eagerly awaited winter break to build snowmen, drink hot cocoa, and watch our favorite holiday movie. Today, most of us spend our weekends scrolling through social media, sleeping, or studying. Where has the magic of the holiday season gone? Maybe it is still around us, but because it has become too difficult to harness, most of us stop trying.
What makes the holiday spirit so difficult to find? As we curl up in bed, an infinite algorithm appears just an inch or so from our eyes. Endless videos promote the perfect winter wish lists as our thumbs frantically scroll. Only a few weeks from winter break, it is imperative to select the perfect gifts for relatives and friends. Whether we like it or not, the most wonderful time of the year has just become yet another task on our never-ending to-do lists. Sleeping through December and waking up in January now seems like a simpler option.
We believe that it is our hyper-awareness of the holiday season that has distracted us from the magic. Red and green sale signs adorn store windows, and we feel pressured to buy the greatest gift, drink the most eggnog, and listen to the most Mariah Carey that we can before it’s too late. The mere idea of setting time for family traditions seems impossible. The endless stream of holiday gifts becomes a source of exhaustion. Social media continuously advertises wishlists for us to browse, and we fall victim to consumerism–but the images we see online perpetuate an image of perfectionism setting false expectations that lead to a month of disappointment. Why doesn’t my tree look that green? Why doesn’t my menorah look so shiny? Why aren’t my presents stacked so high?
At the end of the day, the beautiful nostalgia of the holiday season that we all yearn for doesn’t stem from perfection—it comes from the unique imperfections and traditions that bind our childhood holiday memories to us. The holiday season is beloved for its generational memorabilia and comforting charm; each family holds an individual, yet equally beautiful holiday experience that is impossible to capture in one Instagram post. Everyone’s holiday celebration is personal, not meant to be replicated.
I urge you, dear reader, to re-discover the beauty of the Holiday season by living it fully. Appreciate the snow on the ground, venture into the city for a holiday adventure, and drink as much hot cocoa as you desire. Family tradition is no match for a Pinterest board; the magic of the holiday season may just be in your living room. Spending quality time with your loved ones may just be the cure to all of our holiday troubles, and expressing appreciation for your friends, peers, and family is the perfect way to re-infuse your community with the nostalgic Holiday cheer that we once had as kids.
