The Journey Begins…Continues…but Never Ends

Christmas is a time of celebration that you are with you family and friends. Christmas isn’t all about getting presents, it’s about the birth of Jesus Christ. My true meaning of Christmas is being with the ones you love the most and being grateful for everything that has happened throughout the years. Christmas also means going to church and thanking Jesus for all he has done for us.  Giving presents is one of my most favorite things to do because I love to see the looks on my little cousins’ faces when they open their gifts.

My favorite Christmas memories are looking for my elf on the shelf everyday, getting present from Santa, and seeing my whole family together having so much fun. Every year my family does the same traditions. On Christmas Eve my mom and I go to church, then I go with my dad to my aunt and uncle’s Christmas Eve party. At the Christmas Eve party I would get presents from some of my family members who I won’t see on Christmas. After the Christmas Eve party, I go to my grandparents house and they always let me pick one gift to open the night before Christmas. Then we watch one of our Christmas movies.

On Christmas day, I wake up surprisingly early to go downstair to open presents and more importantly give my mom her gifts. I sometimes have trouble waiting to give my mom her gifts because I know that she will love them. For instance, the other day I gave her an early gift, which was an Alex and Ani bracelet that I purchased when we were in Disney over the summer. After we open all the presents, we call my grandparents to come over to give our gifts to them. We then share stories of previous years. Every year someone makes french toast for breakfast and ever since last year, I started to make breakfast for everyone. These are all my traditions for Christmas Eve and Christmas day. The true meaning of Christmas to me is spending it with the ones you love the most, it’s not about getting presents.

-Katelyn C.

I remember back when I was younger, Christmas seemed to just be a special time to enjoy time with family and a nice break from school. But more importantly it was a chance and reminder to reflect back on Jesus’ life and subsequently the sacrifices that he made for us. There were plenty of reminders that it was the season, I would see Christmas decorations out front of people’s house the day after Thanksgiving and hear B101  playing Christmas songs on the radio the whole time around Christmas. However the older I got the more I started to see all  of the other things that went on during this time. People weren’t just excited that it was Jesus’ birthday and were more so focused on getting the perfect gift. Looking back on it now these last couple of years, I’ve become that way too.

We see and hear all the time about how change is a good thing and we should embrace it. However I’d say that change isn’t always a good thing, especially in this case. The shift that I saw in the way that Christmas was a change that was most definitely not a good one,  and I wish that I did not have to notice it. Getting older, and being responsible for getting gifts for others and not just having my parents go and get something and slapping my name on the box,  allowed me to see just how commercialized the holiday really is. It  seems that the moment that Thanksgiving day ends and Black Friday rolls around we get bombarded with ads telling us about amazing sales for things that would make the “perfect gift” this holiday season.

This is really sad because as cheesy as it sounds, we have already received the perfect gift and its being forgotten as the years go on. The more commercializes the season becomes the more I see a shift in the focus of the holiday. This could just be me getting older and not this becoming more apparent to me as I age, but I don’t think this is the case. I think that technology over the years has made it easier for corporations to unleash massive amounts of ads upon us to buy their product. I really do hope that we as a society can see that this change is not a good one, and try to rediscover the true meaning of Christmas.

Michael W

Christmas is a holiday that celebrates the birth of our lord and savior, Jesus Christ and it is a very important holiday religiously.  Christmas is the most marketable holiday because there is a lot of symbols for Christmas, Christmas has the most symbols your market like a Christmas tree, Santa Claus, elves,  candy canes, nutcrackers, etc the only holiday with symbols are Halloween or Easter. We can sometimes get lost in all the white, red, and green colors and forget what Christmas is about and what and how much Christmas can offer because it offers a lot you can get a lot but you can also give away and help someone else out for Christmas. I think Christmas is good because we can happily and be around family and give out things.

Christmas is one of my favourite holidays because we get to give things away to other people that we care about or people that need it. See others happy makes me happy on special holidays like Christmas especially younger kids who haven’t experienced the joy that Christmas can offer. Christmas is also a time to be closer to God and be in a holy state and be with people that you care about. The symbols of Christmas also mean a lot to me like the naivety scene and cross and reefs and stuff make to holiday better. All school students have a long brake during Christmas.

Christmas makes people happy because the joy that surrounds it and the Spirit of giving is really real because I would give more did in the Christmas spirit. Seeing other people happy for the gifts that they have received makes me and others happy. A holy day celebrating Jesus Christ and being thankful for him. Being thankful for certain for all that we have and receive even though we may not get everything we wanted we still can be thankful for everyone in our lives. Christmas is a happy time that is to be spend with friends and family thankfully.

Jahir A

Even from weeks before thanksgiving we are bombarded with everything Christmas. To stores already decorated, to commercials trying to get us to buy their products as gifts, Christmas is seen everywhere. Especially during December, people are getting caught up in the “commercial” Christmas rather than actually celebrating the real Christmas. People go shopping, ice skating, and other winter festivities but forget what truly matters. This is suppose to be the time of the real to celebrate Jesus’ birth

To me, Christmas is suppose to be a time spent with family and friends and giving to others. During this time we should remember that Jesus wants us to help others in need. Especially because we are celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ, our savior, we should be doing as he had done. This is what I consider to be the “true” Christmas spirit.We can keep the “true” Christmas spirit throughout the year by big or even in the smallest ways. Throughout the year we can continue to give to others and doing as Jesus had done to celebrate his life and thank Him for saving us.

Even for me it is easy to get caught up in the ideal “commercial” Christmas. From seeing what house has the best decorations to all the holiday shopping it is easy to get caught up in the hype of it. Catholic school helps me to redirect my idea of Christmas back towards my faith. It reminds me that the real event we are celebrating is Jesus’ birth. Jesus was born to ultimately die for our sins and save us. So the next time you are asked what Christmas means to you try and remember the real Christmas.

Holly F.

To me, Christmas has many meanings. It is a time to celebrate. A time to be with family. But most most importantly, a time to be one with Christ. It is a time to be thankful for all you have. Because what you have would not be possible with out the birth of our Savior.

For many people Christmas is about getting gifts. I myself get stuck in that same mindset too. I have to remind myself that it is not about getting. It is about giving and being grateful. It is about Jesus and his birth and what it has meant to us.

The idea that gifts and trees and lights are the true meaning of Christmas is seen more today than ever. With social media being so big, all that is shown is bright lights, big trees, and nice gifts. Social media does not show much about Christ’s birth. There is even very few Christmas movies where Jesus is the main topic rather than Santa.

Colin M.

The true meaning of Christmas is the celebration of Jesus Christ and happiness. Christmas was the day that Jesus was born, and that changed everything. For most Christmas is a very happy time. We are supposed to be celebrating the birth of Jesus on Christmas. But what makes it so happy? For me it’s getting to spend time with all of my family members as a whole. During Christmas I realize how nice it is when everyone is all together, and everyone is in a good mood.

Wouldn’t it be nice if everyone was in a great mood all year long, not just on Christmas? This year I’m going to try and keep that positive energy all throughout the year. Christmas makes me realize all the good things that I have in life. Everyone enjoys receiving presents, but it feels so much better giving to people. Giving doesn’t have to just be about presents, but it can be happiness too.

The greatest gift that I give on Christmas is just being nice to everyone. You can’t buy someone’s true happiness. Christmas is about giving and not about receiving. My favorite part of Christmas is being with my family on Christmas morning. I think that we need to focus more on what Christmas is really about, and not on receiving presents. Christmas is for family and Jesus.

Owen K.

To me the true meaning of Christmas is gathering with my family, and being grateful for everything I am blessed with in my life. Every year I celebrate with my family a never ending season. It all starts Christmas day when I open my gifts, and later that day we go to one of my aunt and uncle’s house to get together, and celebrate. That is why Christmas feels special. I get to spend it with my family, and I feel blessed that I have such a wonderful family.

Christmas is my favorite season. I think about Christmas all year long. It’s pretty funny, but I can watch Christmas movies and listen to Christmas music starting in the summer. We can share the spirit of this season with each other all year long, not just on December 25 by thinking about Jesus’ birth. That is the whole meaning of Christmas. Christmas is not about opening gifts, getting gifts, and going shopping. I know it’s a lot of fun to do during Christmas, but Christmas is about Jesus’ birth, and welcoming Him on earth. After all He created us, and he died for us.

I have reminded myself that Christmas is not about getting. It is about giving. I am pretty sure that everyone has to remind themselves about giving during Christmas. That is why during Christmas I make it a point to make sure I buy my parents, my brother, and even my dog a gift. After all it is a season of giving. It is also a season that celebrates Jesus’ birth. Just remember that.

Kaitlyn D.

While it’s true that the true meaning of Christmas is about Jesus’ birth, it’s important to note that what society has done to the Christmas season and the ways people celebrate is a double sided coin. On one hand, Christmas has been separated from Christianity, which is where the holiday derives from. When one thinks of Christmas, they often don’t think of going to church, or of the baby born in the manger and the angels singing and all that. Christmas has been commercialized to a fault; its all about gift giving and receiving. From a surface level, that seems shallow. But while, yes, Christmas has been turned into the pinnacle of material importance, there’s much more to it.

Christmas is about making those around you happy. Sure, one approach is that gift giving is trivial and everyone’s obsession with presents is selfish and not reminiscent of the spirit of Christmas. Everyone likes to say Christmas is all about presents now, and whatever happened to peace and goodwill. It’s still there. It shows itself in the way everyone says “happy holidays”. Even if you don’t celebrate Christmas, people want you to have a good Hanukkah or Kwanza or whatever holiday you observe in this season.

It shows itself in the way the Christmas season has an infectious joy around it. Maybe it is because everyone’s looking forward to getting stuff, but regardless, that cheerful way people have about them in December is anything but useless. While at it’s core, Christmas is about religion, and society’s infatuation with material possessions is a problem, the undeniable feeling of warmth and family around Christmastime is exactly what everyone needs.

Aurora G.

Every year, when Christmas comes around, we start putting up decorations and go out to buy gifts. We think of it as a time of lights, Christmas trees, Santa, and presents. But is that really what Christmas is about? Christmas to me is all about family. All together, we decorate our tree, make cookies, and gather with our extended family for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Not only do I see Christmas as a time of family, but also a time of Jesus Christ’s birth. It is a time to thank God for sending his son to us. We attend Mass together on Christmas Day to celebrate this holy event.

Christmas is also about giving. Yes, we give and receive gifts during the Christmas season. But, we also see a different meaning of giving during this time. Christmas is a time of joy and happiness. We share our kindness and happiness with others who might not have joy. An example of how we spread our kindness and giving is through a toy donation for the less fortunate. We can keep this sense of giving all year long. We can do things simply as spreading kindness to keep the Christmas spirit with us all year long.

I think my favorite Christmas memory would be just being with my entire family Christmas morning. The receiving presents part isn’t as important as simply just being with my family. This is a time where we just spend time together and its something that I’ll keep with me all my life. There is no arguing. We all are just there together.

– Emma S

Christmas is one of the bigger- if not the biggest holiday of the year. With the day quickly approaching, everyone is frantically purchasing gifts and hanging festive decorations. However, we must not let the festivities blind us from what Christmas is really all about. With all of the hustle and bustle, it can be hard to see past the candy and presents, but that is not the overall purpose of Christmas. This season is really about celebrating the birth of Jesus. In light of this, concepts such as kindness, giving, generosity, and thankfulness are things we should focus on.

It is too often that people overlook the true meaning of the season. We can encourage people to be kind and joyful by spreading it ourselves. People often need to be shown kindness in order to express it and that has to start somewhere, so let it start with you. Also, do little things for others just to show them that you care and they are important. These things do not only apply to Christmas time but can be used all year long. It is also always a good thing to spend time with your family and those you love during this time.

The true meaning of Christman can be a lot of different things for different people. For me, it is not about solely one thing but everything that brings joy during this season. And of course, it is important to acknowledge Jesus’ birthday. We can celebrate Jesus by doing good deeds, donating to the poor and hungry, and just being a good person. Let your Christmas be filled with purpose and do what is right.

-Grace H.