When I was little, Christmas gave me so much happiness. Being surrounded by my family and eating delicious Mexican cuisine while opening presents was the best part of the whole day. The Christmas tree was always colorful and filled with lights, ornaments and the most special part: a star at the very top. As I slowly grew up, I began to see those Christmas lights get dim and darker, wondering where they had gone.
Sometimes I wonder why some homes like having a completely white tree and add beige and cream Christmas lights or ornaments. Maybe it’s for the aesthetic, maybe people don’t have any more joy in their hearts. I hate seeing those types of trees and decorating; it’s so plain and boring–the complete opposite of what Christmas is supposed to be. My tree will forever be filled with color and joy, and the laughter of my family members will always fill my home.
My stepmother lives in a big enough house and she decorates her house as if she’s a totally different person. There’s nothing wrong about that, but it’s the fact that she’s trying to be someone she’s not. This year, she sent me a photo of her Christmas tree and it was exactly as I imagined it to be: beige and white. I didn’t say anything, I kept my true emotions to myself, so I said “it looks nice.” In reality, I wanted to tell her so badly it was not a good tree. Christmas is supposed to be about colorful decorations, delicious food, being with friends and family, not just sitting around and doing nothing with either my younger half brother or father.
I remember when kids and teenagers received gifts appropriate for their ages. Kids received toys, art kits, posters, etc. Teens received an iPhone 6s with really cringy phone cases, perfumes, hair accessories. Nowadays, I can’t even believe what kids and teens are receiving from loved ones. An 8-year-old girl will get a whole collection of skincare, designer clothes and bags. Teens are now judged for what they like and receive so much hatred. An example of this is when a teenage girl on TikTok was on a livestream with her father and mother on Christmas Day opening presents with her siblings. She saw a big present for her and immediately got excited. As she ripped the wrapping off, her smile dropped when she instantly saw a portable treadmill. It’s the little things that make a person really regret even asking for a present.
Along with the rise of technology, a more fast-paced lifestyle, trends and a shift away from familiar traditions, the magical feeling of the holiday season is starting to fade. The days of handwritten letters and gatherings are being replaced by quick texts and hurried online shopping for presents. The sound of carolers singing in the street is replaced by the jingle of phone notifications. Even the once comforting scent of pine trees is being replaced by the smell of easy oven dinners.
But perhaps the most significant loss is the sense of pure, unadulterated belief. As children, we believed in magic – in Santa Claus, in miracles, in the possibility of anything. Now, the population is weighed down by negativity–by the harsh realities of adult life.
Yet, in moments of quiet reflection, a glimmer of that childhood magic still exists. It’s there in the eyes of children, in unexpected moments of kindness–in the rare genuine connection we manage to create amid the chaos.
Christmas hasn’t disappeared; it’s just transformed. While it may never feel exactly like it did when we were children, there’s still a chance to rediscover some of that wonder – if we’re willing to look for it. Maybe the magic isn’t gone. Maybe we’ve just forgotten how to see it.
