“Just remember, the true spirit of Christmas lies in your heart.” -Santa, The Polar Express
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The Christmas season is among the most magical times of the year. Despite the arguments of when it actually begins (the day after Thanksgiving, obviously), it brings people together in so many ways.
People celebrate by going to church on Christmas Eve, hanging the stockings by the fireplace, picking out a tree at the local Christmas tree farm, and so much more. Some drink hot cocoa by the fire when it snows, and others bake cookies and carol around neighborhoods.
One of my personal favorite Christmas traditions happens the day before: my sister and I always get a new set of Christmas pj’s to wear on Christmas Eve, and then we read “The Night Before Christmas” and go to bed.
The traditions are endless! Though all of those make Christmas the most holly jolly time of the year, the most popular one by far is opening presents on Christmas morning.
It’s every kid’s dream! Running as fast as you can downstairs to see the lit-up tree with gifts stacked under it, then running back to Mom and Dad’s bedroom begging them to get out of bed so you can open presents.
Remember the feeling now?
I will say, I don’t do that anymore. I spend more time soaking in the Christmas spirit with the music in my car on the way to school, the red and green clothes, and all of the holiday performances. The presents aren’t the forefront of my mind until we hit Christmas break. And isn’t that the way it should be?
Do we have to worry so much about the gifts all the time, or can we just simply focus on being humble? The giving, not getting? Every January, my house seems to fill with meaningless “stuff” as the magical feeling of Christmas slowly drifts away.
Gifts are great – don’t get me wrong – but they shouldn’t take the center of Christmas. “A Christmas Carol” demonstrated that very well, that having a Scrooge-like mindset, revolving around greed, isn’t what Christmas should be like at all.
Instead, focus on the rest of it. The magical part. The hot cocoa and cozy blankets, the dinners with family, the gingerbread houses, the Christmas music on the radio. Soak up the wonder and joy of Christmas with the ones you love and those who love you.
That’s the true spirit of Christmas.
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