Tiss The Season (Ezra)

12/16/2019

Christmas is known as a time of joy and happiness, and it is one of the most iconic holidays ever. There are tons of different traditions and ideas that we associate with Christmas. Like decorating our houses, stores, and even our entire town. There is also an endless amount of movies about all the different imaginary beings like Santa, The Grinch, and flying reindeer. All of these things make this time of year is memorable and special.

However, there is more to Christmas than all these common trends and traditions. Christmas is about being together with your family and friends, and giving to others. It also gives us a reason to give presents to the people we care for and love. As children, and even as an adult, there's nothing better than waking up with your entire family and opening the gifts each person got for the other, and being in each others presence. The essence of each Christmas is stored away in your mind from when you are young, to when you are an adult.

In all actuality, Christmas is just another day and there is nothing very special it. But family and friends all over the world gather on this one day to celebrate together. Without people to celebrate and empower this day to make it special, it is just a regular day. The real power that holidays hold is spreading the eagerness and readiness to give to others. There's nothing better than the gift of giving. As for the religious aspect, many people see this as a day to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. Even the word "Christmas" comes from the "Mass of Christ", or "Christ-Mass".

In my opinion, Christmas is the best holiday because I get to connect with my family that live states away. For as long as I can remember we have always gone to my grandparents house in California, or Louisiana. It is always my favorite time of year because everyone is usually in a good mood, and I like to try and spread positivity and fun around as much as possible. I rarely remember what my presents are, and I usually don't ask for anything. For me Christmas is a special time to be with my loved ones, and spend as much time with them as possible.

That being said, Christmas is right around the corner. I would like to know what Christmas means to you. What reminds you of Christmas? What are your favorite parts of Christmas? What do you want for Christmas this year? What are your favorite holiday traditions? What are your favorite Christmas memories?

Sources: Cooper, James. "Why is Christmas Day on the 25th December." whychristmas.com, 2019, https://www.whychristmas.com/customs/25th.shtml. Accessed 17 December 2019.

35 Comments

Erykah Foss

12/18/2019 09:27:17 pm

When I hear the songs “Santa Tell Me” by Ariana Grande and “ All I Want For Christmas Is You” by Mariah Carrey on the radio and in stores, I know it’s Christmas time, a time of generosity, love, and happiness for millions of people around the world. The holidays are full of family and performing for me. I find opportunities to sing and play violin, usually in churches or for choir. Every year on Christmas, my sister and I empty our stockings before breakfast and then open our presents. My family also has dinner at my grandmother’s house, and we play new board games. When I was in middle school, my aunt bought my sister and me a pair of ice skates each. It was the first and only pair I have ever owned. I will always remember the first time I went skating with my aunt and how we made hot chocolate after. This year, I did not ask for anything, but I am excited to give presents to my friends and family.

Faith

12/20/2019 01:43:44 pm

I know it’s Christmas time when I hear those same songs too! I really liked the story about your family and getting your first pair of ice skates.

Aiden

12/22/2019 11:12:40 am

That is an awesome story. Time with family makes the season great I think. I didn’t ask for anything either. Do you think giving is more important?

Paige

12/22/2019 05:33:10 pm

I also feel like the Christmas season brings generosity, love, and happiness. Why do you think that is? Why is there so much more happiness this time of year?

Alyssa Farnworth

12/22/2019 07:21:09 pm

I like that you mentioned Christmas music. We know that music is a big part of your life and it’s nice to see it represented in the holidays as well.

Faith

12/20/2019 01:55:04 pm

Christmas has a lot of different meanings to me, but the main one is the opportunity to give back to others. A few things that remind me of Christmas are all of the Micheal Buble, Mariah Carey, and Ariana Grande Christmas songs. Also, the scents of gingerbread, pine trees, and peppermint. As I mentioned before, Christmas to me is all about giving. So giving to others is my favorite part. Generally people don’t ask for things from me but I try my hardest to be observant when I am around them, to find out things that they may like. There’s nothing better than seeing someone super happy over something unexpected given to them.
My favorite Christmas memories are those spent with all of my cousins and aunts and uncles at my grandmas house, before she passed away in 2011. On the days spent with her, my parents and my sister would spend Christmas Eve by ourselves and open the presents my parents gave to us. Then, me and my cousins would try to fall asleep the best we could, but always stayed up too late because we were so excited for the next day. One time, to ease me and my cousins’ worries, my grandma looked up a Santa tracker online and let us watch Santa come closer and closer towards Idaho. We would all get up the next morning and have breakfast, then sit down to open presents altogether. We would then spend the day sledding or playing in the snow outside, and using the new things we got.

Aiden

12/22/2019 11:11:04 am

I didn’t think about the music. It’s interesting that songs can remind us of a time of season.

Ezra

12/22/2019 04:55:42 pm

I don't care what anyone says the Santa tracker was bad ass, and it was the best to watch all night waiting.

Brax Kauffman

12/22/2019 05:48:55 pm

When do you think you made the transition between wanting present and wanting to give them? We all know as a child receiving was amazing but as we get older the giving aspect becomes more appealing.

Kately

12/22/2019 07:29:23 pm

The Santa Tracker was one of my favorite things, that reminds me of when I'd bake extra cookies for Santa, and then my dad would feign ignorance as to where the cookies went, even though I could CLEARLY see the crumbs in his mustache. It's memories like those that are priceless, memories that I hope to share with my own children.

Aiden

12/22/2019 11:06:35 am

From a young age my parents have taught me that Christmas is all about Jesus Christ. I’m not a very Christmasy guy but I love the time of year. People become so generous and genuine during this season and it’s just a cheery time. I love the Christmas smells of pine, oranges, and fresh baked cookies. Christmas Eve our family always gets together and acts out the nativity scene of Christ’s birth. My mom collects nativities and our house is decorated with over twenty of the scenes. When she puts them out I know it’s Christmas. We always start the season by getting a Christmas tree up in the mountains the day after Thanksgiving. My favorite memory of Christmas is my dad asking us every Christmas as long as I could remember; Why do we give gifts? We would echo back that it’s because the wise men gave gifts to the baby Jesus and Jesus Christ is a gift to us. I’m thankful I was raised in a religious home. I can’t wait to raise children of my own and see the excitement they have on Christmas morning.

Faith

12/22/2019 12:56:29 pm

That’s really special you grew up with a religious meaning of Christmas, and you adopted so many traditions with your family.

Ezra

12/22/2019 04:53:04 pm

Christmas is all about giving, and I agree that it is very cool that you and your family spend the time looking back at religion.

Paige

12/22/2019 05:29:42 pm

I am glad you mentioned the Savior in your post. It is becoming more and more apparent that we are forgetting the true meaning of Christmas.

Brax Kauffman

12/22/2019 05:37:07 pm

I really like how much of the religious aspect influences your holiday season. It’s good to see how the origin of the holiday is still strong in our world.

Brax Kauffman

12/22/2019 05:23:04 pm

Christmas is a very important holiday to my family. The main reason it is so important is this is the tome of year we get to see our other family we usually do not get to. Since our family is spread out throughout the country the only time we usually get to see each other is during the summer on a trip or around this holiday. During this time our friends and family get together and it is so fun getting to see everyone and talk with them. One of the traditions I remember doing for the longest time is making Christmas cookies and then watching a VHS Christmas movies. The two that we watched the most were Rudolph and frosty the snowman. I think the beat part about this time of year is just how much happier everyone can become. I know that given your situation, the holidays can be a tough time but for others it amplifies their moods of thankfulness and happiness. Christmas has seats been my favorite time of the year and it will continue to be a large part of my life.

Sabrina

12/22/2019 05:36:57 pm

It's interesting that you said you watched VHS Christmas movies. Christmas is definitely a time to take it back and honor traditions and do things the old way in our family.

Erykah

12/22/2019 06:59:15 pm

It's interesting how certain times of the year can bring out the best or worst in humans. Do you think there are-- or should be-- studies that show an average of how much happier families get when they see each other during the holidays?

madicyn

1/12/2020 07:18:40 pm

Christmas used to be one of my favorite holidays, but as I grew up the spirit sometimes is not the same. Things changed as people grew up, and it isn't the same as it once was.

Paige Hilton

12/22/2019 05:26:06 pm

I feel Christmas is a time to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. His birth tends to be forgotten this time of year with all of our focus on gifts and treats and what we're hoping to receive. However, I do feel like Christmas is the time of year where families and friends are closest. The season seems to bring people together and provide Christmas joy to most everyone.
I know it is Christmas time when my family goes to get our Christmas tree and go sledding. It is one of my favorite traditions to go and get the tree and go sledding in the mountains. Some other traditions we have are eating egg rolls for dinner on Christmas Eve and watching "A Christmas Story". My favorite part of Christmas has to be the smell of ginger and cinnamon in my house as my family bakes goodies during the season.
I am so excited for Christmas and spending time with my family. The Christmas season is most certainly my favorite time of year and I plan to make the most of it.

Sabrina

12/22/2019 05:34:17 pm

It's been interesting to hear about sledding and snow because I grew up in Arizona. When it hit 50˚ I knew it was Christmas.

Sabrina

12/22/2019 05:32:59 pm

As a child, Christmas was all about presents. It had no meaning besides tradition, it was always just done every year. We have always opened up presents from our grandparents on Christmas Eve. Instead of labeling presents with our names, my dad would put a code on each present that we would have to solve in order to figure out whose present is whose. As I've gotten older I've come to appreciate it for different reasons, or just appreciate it in general. My dad recently told me how much he loves giving gifts to his children and that changed my perspective of Christmas. My parents don't give us gifts because they're supposed to and we'd feel bad if they didn't, but because they enjoy giving to us kids. As cliche as the statement "Christmas is about giving" is, I now understand it and agree with it. My favorite part about Christmas is having family together and sitting at the dinner table for hours after meals and talking. After, we do dishes to music and those are my best memories. Really, it has nothing to do with Christmas, it's just an excuse to have everyone over. I was also raised in a religious home and Christ is at the center of our Christmas every year. I don't know what I want for Christmas this year. My dad is picking for me so I'm excited to see what I get.

Erykah

12/22/2019 06:51:03 pm

I'm glad that age comes with a better understanding of the meaning of Christmas. Although I am excited for presents but even more excited for my time with my family. What age did you realize the true meaning of Christmas?

Alyssa Farnworth

12/22/2019 07:17:11 pm

I’m glad that you found a better understanding of Christmas. As we age many things gain new meaning. What do you look forward to most in the holiday season when you start your own family?

Kately

12/22/2019 07:21:47 pm

As a kid, I dreaded the pair of socks and educational books I got. In the perspective I have now, I'm grateful for whatever I receive. Just being in the company of my loved ones and the memories we make are beyond precious to me.

Alyssa Farnworth

12/22/2019 07:14:20 pm

Christmas to me is a time to be with my family. It has been a tradition in my family to make cookies every Christmas Eve and watch movies together. Most commonly we watch”The Santa Clause”. On Christmas we have taken a family picture in the snow every year. Some years we would go sledding. We also have family game nights. Personally, I just like the lights and being with my family. My family has never been super religious but we have always been taught to recognize and be grateful for the birth of Jesus Christ. My favorite Christmas memory is staying up with my siblings all night when we were younger then waking my parents up at four to six in the morning because we were so excited.

Tori Weir

12/22/2019 07:48:35 pm

I love traditions that involves families spending time together. I think traditions like yours is what brings family members closer to each other. What would you consider the best memory during Christmas?

Madicyn

1/12/2020 07:21:22 pm

My family used to have a ton of fun family traditions, but as we grew older they sadly seemed to drift away. Along with having a split family, Christmas is a hard time, but we always make it work and a good time of the year.

Kately

12/22/2019 07:16:48 pm

I can tell when its that time of year when folks put out their Christmas decorations out early, or when I come into school at 7:30 to hear Mr. Anderson playing holiday songs on his saxophone. These are some of my favorite things, but all in all, people just seem more cheery. Even the phrase "Merry Christmas" is just wonderful to say. It also gives me an excuse to drink hot chocolate with candy canes. I realized the true meaning of Christmas when I was about 11, my dad got to come home from North Dakota during the oil boom, and I realized how important holidays like this were.

Tori Weir

12/22/2019 07:46:40 pm

Christmas brings joy and hope in families and it reminds of us what is special during it. Whether it is family or giving this is one of the most popular holidays. What do you want for Christmas?

Andy Gebhardt

12/23/2019 06:00:10 pm

Hearing Christmas music is always a great thing this time of year. I will not lie I do not like hearing it early in like November but when December gets hear I love it. Do you think Christmas songs are a part of the holiday magic?

Tori Weir

12/22/2019 07:43:56 pm

Christmas is a time of celebrating Jesus Christ’s birth. Ever since I was young my parents were always reminding me of the true meaning of why we celebrate Christmas. While giving and receiving gifts are nice, but the best part of Christmas is celebrating and spending time with family. I know when the Christmas season is coming around when my sister starts singing Christmas songs. Every year my family and I would get together to make gingerbread houses and each one of us would pick out a theme we would base the house on. One year, I made a “Hunger Games” theme and another was full of gummy bears that were in a circus. After we would complete the houses we would compare with each other and eat the candy off the houses afterward. My family and I would also make sugar cookies shaped like reindeer, stars, trees, Santa, or snowflakes. Those would probably be the best memories of Christmas, I love spending time with my family and doing fun activities.

Andy Gebhardt

12/23/2019 05:58:38 pm

I like how you go back to the true meaning of Christmas. I feel as though a lot of people forget that it is named after Christ and what the story is. Why do you think the perspective has changed?

Andy Gebhardt

12/23/2019 05:57:05 pm

Christmas is important in my family and it comes with a lot of traditions. Every year our traditions start on December 1 and go until Christmas. My favorite traditions include the food, our advent calendars, and Christmas Day traditions.
The advent calendars are cloth hangars that have specific day ornaments. Every morning my mom puts something little like a piece of chocolate in them and we hang up that days ornament.
For our Christmas Eve dinner we do what is called cheese fondue. This is melted cheese that certain things are then dipped in like sausages and bread. Also, we do a rice pudding dessert where the winner of the whole almond gets a prize.
On Christmas Day my family always goes up to the ski hill for the day to spend time together doing something we love. Overall, that is what I remember most about any Christmas. The time spent with family and the laughter shared. Most of our Christmas’s have been only our family because we live far away from family. However, spending time with just our family makes Christmas special and will always be something I remember

madicyn

1/12/2020 07:16:06 pm

Christmas most years is shown to me through the music played on the radio, and the snow on the ground. Everyone usually gets into a holiday spirit, and the tips at work get much bigger! My favorite parts of Christmas is being able to have a break to spend with family, although it requires a lot of traveling but it usually is worth it. My favorite holiday traditions are the ones that are with my family, like having Christmas Eve dinner at my grandmas and doing presents together. When I was a child this happened more regularly and we also did cookies and pretzels together is as well. As time goes on, as we grow older and lives get busier, we have to take the moments we have all together very gratefully.

Author

Write something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview.

Author

Write something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview.