Reminisce November: the outstretched table quilted with embroidered linen, the crispy brown turkey in the middle, alongside spice-kicked mashed potatoes and the family-own homemade pumpkin pie. However, it is all in the past. Now recognize the barren trees quivering in the chilling breeze. Understand that in order to embark outside, one must bundle up completely: itchy hat and scarf, long-sleeved layers, coat, fuzzy socks and all. Realize the inevitable: winter is coming. But breathe a sigh of relief, tis the holiday season.

Utter splendor and delight fills this time of year. Siblings who are away at college finally return to high school friends and patient families eager to spend time with them. Traditions still exist, whether that includes cranking up the radio to Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas is You” in the car or procrastinating schoolwork by decorating the tree with bows, tinsel, and antique ornaments until 10 pm. Many families smile and embrace each other in a photo-up wearing coincidental complementary attire. Of course, this is all alongside the embellished tree (star-topped no doubt).

Looking back on Christmas memories as a child, senior Caylee Luebeck said, “my favorite moment was probably opening all the little doors on my Advent calendar for the entire month of December and picking out all the chocolates.” Advent is the four weeks preceding Christmas that Christians celebrate as the beginning of the church year; Christmas Day being the birth of Jesus Christ. By no means should one must be Christian to celebrate Christmas, for the joyous season of hope and love is to be celebrated by all.

A month before Christmas, when alone in the house, seniors Tara and Taylor Chatowsky began blasting Christmas music throughout their house. Posed in front of a camera with festive sweaters, clutching their pomeranian dog Ripley in a Santa hat; both sing-a-long to classic holiday tunes and send them to friends via Snapchat. Gleefully smiling and captioning each video with the most essential number of days till Christmas, these twins sure know how to spread holiday spirit. “It’s a very festive time of year, watching Christmas movies and singing Christmas songs,” said Tara.

Of course spending time with family is still prominent for the Chatowsky twins, but both conclude that the reactions they receive from friends on their spirited snapchats are priceless. “Buddy the Elf once said, ‘The best way to spreadChristmas cheer is singing lod for all to hear,’” said Tara.
However many criticize this time of year, as they witness Christmas develop into a commercialized holiday with children only awaiting the arrival of “Santa Claus” and his magical flying reindeer to fulfill their materialistic desires. Senior Natalie Bernier said, “Christmas means consumerism and stress, way to go America.” Modern Christmas traditions today coexists with the dread of spending well past usual expenditures, becoming a stressful time to fulfill another’s desires.

To put this in context, the average person in the United States is spending $830 on Christmas presents, a $126 dollar increase since 2013. Within the last few years as well, Black Friday shopping has begun as early as 6, not in the morning but on the evening of Thanksgiving Day. On the day when we gather and be thankful for all that we have been given is interrupted with determination to achieve the cheapest temporal purchase.
Besides pondering holiday happiness versus spending anxiety, a rather disheartening perspective on the upcoming season is evident, but often overlooked.

Imagine entering this time of year with one less individual beside you. Within school, many students have lost someone within the last year or in previous years. Having to endure losing a loved one during what is suppose to be a joyous occasion within our culture is an extremely heart-aching and unimaginable experience that many have been fortunate to not come by yet. Consider the holiday season, “the most wonderful time of the year.” But remember: it is simply not for all.

In upcoming months, looking back on this holiday season of Christmas splendor and New Year’s relish, will have peers turning to each other and scratching heads in question, “how did it all go by so fast?” There are no answers for how the holidays have a somewhat concise agenda, but there are for how individuals carry themselves during the time. Simply be genuine and sincere to all this time of year. Nothing will be regretted when a warm and welcoming “Merry Christmas” to another can comfort and make all the difference.