The True Meaning of Christmas

Korrin B.

December 5, 2008 - 9:16 PM

The holiday season is an interesting time. It is especially interesting this year with the way the economy has been. At the core of the holiday season are the ideas of family, generosity, and love. However, every year when the holidays roll around, people seem to focus more and more on the ideas of consumerism, stress, and depression.

The holidays start earlier and earlier. This year, I stopped by the mall a few weeks well before Thanksgiving and it had already been transformed into a winter wonderland. The idea of late autumn is now just a very early winter. Due to the state of the economy this year, stores are trying harder and harder to get people to spend the money that they don't have. This leads to the earlier start of the holiday season with more and more "blow out" sales. The idea of giving thoughtful gifts to loved ones or those in need easily turns into simply - buy, buy, buy.

As for the stress and depression, that comes from several aspects. First, there is the financial stress of the holidays, as hinted above. However, the holidays bring people together as well. This should be a good thing and often times it is a great thing. The truth is though, that it can also lead to high expectations that aren't met, which leads to disappointment, or the rehashing of fabulous family feuds. These and many other issues combined lead to high holiday tensions. If you throw in the fact that there is less daylight during this time of the year, which can often put people into a winter stupor, then you end up with the financial, family, winter holiday trifecta.
I've had a hard time getting into the holiday spirit this year. Most of the time I just can't figure out why I should. I was thinking about Christmases past the other day though and realized that I did used to love it. When I was a kid I couldn't wait for Christmas. I loved the smells. I loved decorating my tree. I loved being with my mom, my dad, and my brother. I loved hanging up my stocking that my mom had handmade for me. I loved sleeping out in the living room next to the fireplace with my jingle bear in hopes that I would eventually catch Santa.

Lately when I've gone into work at the elementary school, I've noticed the extra twinkle in the children's eyes. They have that sweet innocence of the holiday season. They don't see the problems in the world or the stresses. They just see something to be excited about. The holidays are for the children. They are the only place where the holidays reside in a truly pure for. If the true essence of the holidays still exists anywhere, it is in the happy beating little hearts of kids.

I haven't completely given up on the holidays quite yet. The other day I went to the store and picked a few names off of the Children's Miracle Network Christmas tree. I bought 11-year-old Justin the board game Battleship and 12-year-old Karen a jewelry box that I filled with bracelets and necklaces. As I placed their gifts into the donation bin, I knew that thinking of the smiles on their faces on Christmas Day would be enough to get me through the season.

http://www.unicef.org/