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OPINION
January 12, 2021
Maybe Christmas means a little bit more
RachelAnn Degnan Columnist The holidays are the best time of the year because of the feeling in the air that brings happiness and warmth to even the grumpiest around us.
I know this all too well because this year, I wanted to be like the Grinch. I wanted to hate Christmas and despise anyone who participated in the holidays. Please don’t ask me why, I don’t quite know the exact reason. It could have been that my heart was too sad, for I wanted to sit down at a table full of my loved ones and share a meal. I wanted to tell stories and watch my mother make the same seasonal jokes. I wanted my father to read the Christian Bible’s Luke chapter two like he did every year and talk about the birth of Christ. Lastly, I wanted to kick my older brother from under the table and make him jump at the most inopportune times. As December crept closer, I reminded myself I could have none of this. My brother was quarantined across the state, and both of my parents had passed away. In my sadness and anger, I decided I would hate Christmas this year. I would hate having to leave my life in Ellensburg to go to my hometown and take care of my grandparents and little cousins. I would hate the amount of money I spent on gifts, and most of all, I would hate that dreaded Christmas Eve dinner with the multiple vacant chairs. I didn’t have to go home, and I seriously considered spending my holidays binge-watching “Gilmore Girls.” But when I thought of my young cousins, aunt, uncle and grandparents, my heart was warmed, and I felt called home.
As I walked through the front door, I could smell the spiced pecans my grandmother makes every year. The house was freshly decorated with the same Nativity scenes I had played with since I was young, and our traditional white stockings hung gingerly from the fireplace. I was surprisingly reminded of how tradition-based Christmas truly is. According to PsychAlive, traditions remind us of where we came from and how much we have accomplished. For me, traditions remind me of a simpler time where I did not care about taxes or the constant growth of gas prices. I felt a calming peace rush over me as I stood in the warm suburban home I had lived in most of my high school years and remember the holidays of my past. Growing anticipation for the Christmas dinner overwhelmed my heart, yet I continued to convince myself that I needed to be a Grinch, and I was not allowed to enjoy the holidays. I struggled to keep my promise, and each day I felt happy and joyful to be surrounded with love, tradition and snow. Harvard Medical School found evidence that a “lack of strong relationships increased the risk of premature death from all causes by 50% - an effect on mortality risk roughly comparable to smoking up to 15 cigarettes a day, and greater than obesity and physical inactivity.” Spending time with family renews our mental and physical health. During the holidays everyone has a chance to heal and recover from the trouble that haunts their normal days. There is a peaceful quietness that comes a few days before Christmas. The presents are wrapped, there is no homework or
work and the entire town is sparkling with lights. All activities involve some form of bonding with loved ones, and even a nice brisk walk to look at your neighbor’s decorations warms the spirit. There is a togetherness that spreads through our entire nation. Somehow, somewhere, everyone is with someone on Christmas. We remember the homeless, the starving, the orphans, and the unloved and we donate or invite them into our homes to be a part of the festivities. After all, isn’t that how the Grinch learned to love Christmas? Maybe not in his original story, but modern-day stories teach the lesson that all it takes sometimes is a single act of kindness. Just like that, my dreaded Christmas eve dinner was here. The Christmas tree was shining, the decorations were up and it was time to eat. The moment I was planning to hate the most out of 2020 had come. We all clasped hands, and my grandfather said a prayer. I looked across the table and felt a sudden peace. Now I like to think I am not sentimental, but as I looked at my 12 and 9-year-old cousins and the smiles outstretched on their faces, I remembered being their ages and the joy and happiness I felt with my family. For a grief-ridden moment, I imagined my parents sitting at the table with smiles that reminded me Christmas doesn’t come from a store, and Christmas perhaps means a little bit more. What happened then? Well in my household they say that my cold icy heart grew three sizes that day. The holidays are special because of the memories you make, so don’t take a single thing for granted, that’s a mistake!
between $30,000-$50,000 also report higher levels of stress around the holidays. Of the people in this income range, 53% reported their stress increasing during the holidays, versus 31% of people with lower incomes and 40% of people with higher incomes. According to Statista, in 2019 about 20% of Americans have a household income between $25,000-$50,000, indicating the income group reporting the highest levels of stress make up a decent amount of the population. APA found that people who reported increased levels of stress during the holidays are more likely than others to worry about the financial demands of the holidays. Of people who reported their stress increasing around the holidays, 76% reported often or sometimes worrying about money versus 55% of people who reported no change in stress. Similarly, 70% of people who reported increased levels of stress during the holidays often or sometimes felt stress about buying gifts, versus 32% of people who reported no change in stress. Another statistic worth noting from the APA is that 39% of people reported not being paid enough to afford the holidays and 27% of people reported losing hours at work they needed to pay bills being a very or somewhat significant factor of stress around the holidays.
Health problems Chronic stress can have a large impact on physical health. According to Healthline, stress can lead to symptoms such as headaches, increased depression, insomnia, tense muscles, weakened immune system, high blood pressure and stomach issues, among others. According to American Addiction Centers, people also tend to binge drink and increase alcohol consumption around the holidays. Not only does this apply around winter holidays, but holidays such as the Fourth of July, Cinco de Mayo and Thanksgiving. While alcohol consumption may be linked to celebration, it should also be noted that alcohol can be used as a crutch during social situations and in times of stress, according to Very Well Mind. Excessive consumption of alcohol can lead to heart conditions, high blood pressure, heart failure and strokes, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine. According to Patient Care, numerous studies have found a link between the holidays and cardiovascular events including heart failure, cardiac mortality and acute myocardial infarctions (heart attacks). So, with all this in mind, it’s no surprise that chronic stress combined with the influence of alcohol around the holidays leads to health problems.
Conclusion Holidays put very unnecessary pressure on people, particularly Americans. The commercialization and high expectations that come with the holidays have a great impact not only on people’s mental health but physical health as well. There are many other factors that could be brought up about why the holidays may not be as great as they’re made out to be by movies and commercials. But, these are some of the most significant ways holidays have a negative impact on people’s lives and society. Rather than the holidays making people feel obligated to go see family members that may create stress and buying extravagant gifts when money is already scarce, people should use time throughout the year to visit family when they actually want to and buy their friends and family nice things when they have the means to. I personally don’t really celebrate holidays at all. But, until the mass commercialization and stress of holidays stop, I don’t think people who do want to celebrate can ever truly be happy celebrating.
Making a case against the holidays
Abigail Duchow Columnist I don’t think holidays are really as great as they’re made out to be by Hallmark movies. Holidays have become a commercialized plague of stress, money and health problems that include very little reward.
Stress and financial strain A 2019 article published by PR Newswire found that 61% of Americans were “dreading the winter holidays due to spending,” with 57% specifically dreading Christmas. One in three Americans were losing sleep over how they’ll pay for the holidays, about 25% expected to incur debt during the holiday season, and nearly one in five were still paying off bills from the previous year’s holidays. A study published by the American Psychological Association (APA) in 2006 found that 38% of people reported higher levels of stress during the holidays. This stress was disproportionately reported by women, with 44% of women reporting an increase in stress versus 31% of men. The reason for this discrepancy is that women more often reported taking on the primary responsibilities of holiday celebrations, such as cooking, cleaning and shopping. As for the rest of the people, 54% reported stress levels staying the same, and only 8% reported a decrease in stress during the holidays. Also found by the APA, people who have a lower middle household income
Graphics by Rebekah Blum
