Christmas Essay Contest 2021

What does the Christmas Spirit mean to you?

1 2 0 2 In this issue you will find all 5 of the prize-winning essays plus many more entries from area students!

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2 - December 8, 2021 - Christmas

Essay Contest

- What Does The Christmas Spirit Mean To You?

Welcome Readers!

We enjoyed reading the many essays that were submitted in this year’s contest. While there were many different interpretations of ‘What Christmas Spirit Means,’ there was one common thread through all of them – love, peace, family, and giving.

This section features the winning submissions along with all the essays we received this year. We hope you enjoy reading them as much as we have, and may the true spirit of Christmas be with your family this holiday season.

Christmas Essay Contest Judges: Daniel and Rebecca Stoltzfus own Route 10 Roadside Market in Honey Brook.

Their family-run produce and grocery market started in 1983 with a roadside stand where they sold produce. The stand grew over the years, and in 2000 they moved inside to provide ample space to sell bulk foods and produce year-round.

Wendy Royal is the Editor of Engle Printing & Publishing Co., Inc.’s community newspapers. Wendy and her husband enjoy spending time with their son and daughter-in-law and four grandchildren.

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John Kauffman is the owner of Widespread Rentals and Equipment in Honey Brook. While working on masonry jobs in the early 2000s, contractors often asked him to rent his lifts. After many such interactions, he decided to open his rental business in February 2011.

What Does The Christmas Spirit Mean To You? - Christmas

$250

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WINNER

WINNER

GRAND PRIZE

SECOND PLACE

Julie Morrison

Bethany Martin

“What the Christmas Spirit means to me”

Love, Joy, Peace, and Giving

Age 13 Honey Brook

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Essay Contest - December 8, 2021- 3

Age 12 New Holland

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he Christmas Spirit has a different interpretation for everyone. Some people believe the Christmas Spirit can be bought. Others believe the Christmas Spirit is about filling your house with Christmas decorations, making Christmas cookies, or sleeping under the Christmas tree with family on Christmas Eve. To me, the Christmas Spirit means so much more. It is about having a heart full of peace and joy even if you don’t get any gifts or end up spending Christmas alone. The real Christmas Spirit comes with having Christ in your heart as you celebrate His birthday.

hat does the Christmas spirit mean to you? When I think of Christmas, I imagine peace, love, joy, and the giving of gifts. At Christmas-time, it’s so full of love and cheer it’s almost impossible to become sad!

The Christmas Spirit cannot be bought. While exchanging gifts is exciting, if we don’t get what we want we may become sad or hurt and lose focus of what the Christmas Spirit is about. When you gladly give gifts to show thankfulness in your heart to God for what he gave to us, you are showing the true Christmas Spirit!

Every other year, our school has a tradition of giving gifts to the needy.

Sometimes we donate hygeine kits filled with essential items such as toothbrushes, soap, and shampoo, all wrapped up in a fluffy towel, and sometimes we give school kits made up of pencils, notebooks, and rulers in a backpack.

When Christmas time comes, we may get distracted by traditions like hanging up stocking by the fireplace or decorating a Christmas tree. These things are great fun, but we must be careful not to forget what we should really be celebrating. Christmas is not about Santa Claus or presents, it is about celebrating the birth of Christ with joy!

Giving gifts to others brings a feeling of joy to both the giver and the receiver. Joy is an important part of Christmas to me, because giving brings joy, and God sent His Son to earth and that is what Christmas is full of, the celebration of His birth.

Having the Christmas Spirit is not about getting an expensive gift or sharing in traditions. To me, it is about having Christ’s Spirit in you along with a constant expression of joy and thankfulness to God for sending us His son on Christmas morning.

What means the most to me of the Spirit of Christmas is the part about giving. God gave His Son into the world to save those which were lost, and that is the greatest Christmas gift.

The peace of Christmas is so wonderful! Peace is one of the parts of Christmas that is very essential to me. When I think of peace, I think of the silent, holy night on which Jesus was born. Flickering candlelight dancing on the walls and intricate snowflakes drifting from a cloudy sky.

Love is one of the greatest parts of the Christmas spirit, for without love, Christmas isn’t Christmas. Love gives me a warmth inside not made by heat from a furnace or fire. We give gifts out of love for others, just as God gave His great gift, Jesus, out of love for the people in the world.

If love, joy, peace, and giving would be missing from the Christmas spirit, no doubt Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas at all!

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4 - December 8, 2021 - Christmas

Essay Contest

- What Does The Christmas Spirit Mean To You?

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WINNER

MENTION

THIRD PLACE

HONORABLE

Aubree Hankinson

Chase Moore

Age 11 Morgantown

Age 13 Honey Brook

What does Christmas spirit mean to you?

The Spirit of Christmas

thought about that question before, but I have never thought about how I would answer that question. People in general, celebrate Christmas in so many different ways across the world. Christmas for you could look like lighting eight candles on a menorah. Or spending time with family and eating turkey or ham. Or it could look like setting up a nativity and praying. It could even look like lighting a black candle on a kinara representing unity. Whatever you do on Christmas you do it because it makes you feel happy. Or because you are staying true to your culture or religion. To me, Christmas spirit means celebrating the birth of our father in heaven, Jesus Christ. Even though I celebrate Christmas through Christian beliefs it is not the only way I celebrate the Christmas spirit. Spending time with family and cherishing each other’s company is also another important part of Christmas for me. Every year it always seems “things get busier around the holidays” this is a reality for most people. So really being grateful for that time I get with family, and really enjoying it without being stressed about other things that are happening in my life is another meaning of Christmas spirit to me. Christmas spirit may mean something different to you but that doesn’t take away from the value it has for you.

he streets—gleaming with bright lights, slick from the thick snow— have finally fallen silent. The cheerful songs and laughter of children from the light hours have faded to silence. Yet the street of Downingtown is still full of joy. In the way the lights shimmer above whomever walks below them; they appear as multicolored stars with the promise of happiness in the coming days. The snow is worn in with angels and sled trails—hardly a spot has been untouched by the playful kids. Although the sun has set and the sky is dark, the snow still glistens and reflects the rainbow lights lining the street stores and homes. This is the spirit of Christmas, but this is only the beginning.

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The window panes are glossed over with a coat of frost blurring the scenes just beyond them. Each of those scenes are different from home to home. In some, there will be children sleeping on the couch in hopes to catch Santa. In others there will be ugly, matching sweaters being worn for the annual family pictures. No matter how different each scene is, all of them have one common trend. Family. Each home is full of its own heart.

Its own family. Exchanging presents to one another, inviting over grandparents, and even those without biological families still finding a way to feel the love. This is the spirit of Christmas; this is the time when all the bad in the world seems to be muted, and nothing else exists outside the little bubble of joy within each home.

MENTION

That is what Christmas is all about…that is what the spirit is all about. And even though the world can be touch, this holiday, this month, can be the saving grace. Let the spirit take you away…to your little bubble of joy.

HONORABLE Kylie Giljam Age 14 Terre Hill

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What the Christmas Spirit Means to Me

ome people might think that the Christmas spirit is in the gifts you get, or the Christmas dinner you eat, or even going Christmas shopping. To me, the Christmas spirit means having a sense of comfort and happiness while spending time with the ones you love, whether that’s your dog, siblings, parents, or grandparents. It also means having fun and being grateful. While building snowmen, baking cookies and listening to Christmas music I always am so grateful that I get a chance to do those things. When I listen to Christmas songs I really listen to the words and bring in a deeper meaning and I think that is what the Christmas spirit means too. On Christmas day is when the Christmas spirit really comes out, but not with the gifts you get! The bigger the gift doesn’t mean someone loves you more, but the thought that came with the gift to make them get it for you. I love getting presents but nothing makes me happier than giving gifts to other people. Putting a smile on someone else’s face; that is what the Christmas spirit is all about. In conclusion, the meaning of the Christmas spirit is many things to me, but in all it all comes down to being with family and being happy, because no matter what you get on Christmas day, nothing will be as special as your family.

FINALISTS Aaron Esh Age 12 East Earl

The Spirit of Christmas The Christmas spirit to me is spending time with family, getting, and giving gifts. Although, more importantly, it is celebrating that Jesus Christ was born, on earth, this day, for us. For me the familiar song,” Silent Night”, talks about Jesus’s birth and brings me feelings of happiness and calmness.

I love that we are free because Jesus took our sin from us.

It is significant that Jesus came to earth because he came for our ultimate sacrifice for our sin. If not, we would still be sacrificing pure lambs and goats. He was born for this ultimate sacrifice on Christmas day. He died on Good Friday. He would rise from death on Easter. He then went back to his home later, in heaven. The happy, calm, and loved feeling of Jesus getting rid of my sin is the same feeling as the Christmas spirit to me.

What Does The Christmas Spirit Mean To You? - Christmas

Dominic Weaver Age 11 New Holland, PA

This is what the Christmas’s spirit means to me. It means to go outside and play in the snow unto your so cold you come in. Then it is always fun to make some good hot coco. It means to sit by the fire and to warm up as you smell the cinnamon candles, sing carols with other people and laugh and talk joyfully together. Then there is the tree that sits in the corner of the room with candy canes on it, and all the wonderful gifts around it. But the most important part about the tree, is the star that lives on the very top of the tree, and this is where the whole story began. The manger scene sitting on the shelf tells the story of Jesus Christ, and the true meaning of Christmas. It’s always fun to read the story of Jesus and how the three wise men followed this bright star to Bethlehem where they gave gifts of Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh to baby Jesus. Along with God’s gift of Jesus to us, the gifts of the wise men were the first gifts given at Christmas which inspired the spirit of giving gifts at Christmas today.

Elijah Fox Age 12 Narvon

Christmas Spirit thoughts from a 12 year old What is Christmas spirit? Is it a fuzzing feeling? Is it the excitement of presents? Is cookies, Christmas trees, or maybe driving to see the bright lights?

Essay Contest - December 8, 2021- 5

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While those things are fine, I think Christmas Spirit is, about Jesus. Jesus came down as a baby, the die on the cross. When He did that, He gave us a choice to repent from our sins.

We can show the spirit of Christmas by giving gifts to others. That symbolizes God giving us His only Son, Jesus. Now that is a gift to be excited about!

Coby Weaver Age 13 New Holland

What the Christmas spirit means to me is a warm fire and snow falling outside with a warm cup of hot chocolate beside me or in my hand. A colorful and decorated Christmas tree with ornaments doting the leaves and tinsel and lights making colorful spirals around the tree in the center of the living room and stacks of colorful cheerful looking wrapped presents underneath it. Spending time at my Grammas house with my siblings and making colorful cookies with pretty sprinkles and icing. Cousins come down from Virginia and open presents and celebrate Christmas with my entire family and spend the day with them. The smells of cinnamon, pine and gingerbread with the sites of Christmas jolly floating around. The sound of Christmas carols in the air or on the radio. A manger scene sitting on the black top reminding us of the birth of Jesus Christ. And also reminding us of what the first Christmas was like and how the Wise men and the shepherds did on the first Christmas in Bethlehem. Going to family’s houses and celebrating Christmas with them and reading what the bible says about the first Christmas. And That is what the Christmas spirit means to me.

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Age 11 Martindale

The Christmas Spirit The Christmas Spirit is love and good cheer. It is kind. The Christmas Spirit is the spirit of giving. On Christmas we have joy when we give love and kindness to other people. It is fun receiving gifts on Christmas but the best gift is the gift of love.

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6 - December 8, 2021 - Christmas

Essay Contest

- What Does The Christmas Spirit Mean To You?

Dwayne Shirk Age 13 Ephrata

I like Christmas because we go to church to hear Christmas stories. After church we have a family gathering it is so fun with our cousins. Then on christmas eve I am so excited to see what I get for my Christmas gift. And when the young folks go caroling for the old folks. Me and my cousin’s like to go to our grandma to hear the carolers sing then usally we don’t get to bed till late. And Mom goes to one of my cousins to exchange Christmas cookies. I like to see what kind of cookies she gets. And I help to make tasty candy houses.

We sometimes have a Christmas program that is so much fun. And at school we are making making Christmas gifts for the poor people. And I like when we get our Christmas presents at school because the parents come with dinner and they help us sing Christmas songs and they watch us open our presents.

And I am excited to see what kind of cards I get from my friends.

Abigail Weaver Age 12 New Holland

What the Christmas Spirit Means to Me… I think Christmas is the best holiday! Christmas day is when baby Jesus was born over 2000 years ago. During the holidays, I always like to help my mom set up the nativity. It reminds me that our King was born in a stable with animals. My dad likes to set up our Christmas tree right after Thanksgiving, so I like to help my brother and sisters hang the ornaments.

One of our Christmas traditions is going to family dinners. I have fun with cousins at each place. Every year we go to my Mamaw & Papaw’s house.

We eat a delicious dinner and have dessert. Then we open our presents and stockings. We also go to my Grandma & Pop-Pop’s house for a tasty meal, dessert, and presents! Every other year, Grandma & Pop-Pop take

the whole family somewhere fun for our gift. In 2018 we went to Great Wolf Lodge. We had a blast there and want to go again! We also get to go to my Great Grandma & Great Grandpa’s on my mom’s side of the family for dinner and gifts. At home with my family we like to wake up super early on Christmas morning to open presents. Then we eat breakfast and change into nice clothing so my mom can take pictures of us in front of our Christmas tree. After we open presents, we like to play with them for a while.

When we’re done with that, we normally go outside and play in the snow.

We love to play outside in the snow! We have a big hill that we all love to go sledding on.

As you can see, we are pretty busy around Christmas time. I LOVE Christmas!

Jeshua Day Age 11 New Holland

What Christmas Spirit Means to Me

When I think about Christmas Spirit, I think of the joy it brings to me. Three things that bring me that joy are, celebrating Jesus’ birthday, the trees and the presents and family.

Celebrating Jesus is very important to me. It is the day the Savior was born.

We celebrate Jesus’ birth in a couple different ways. One way is we go to church and have a Christmas Eve service. The best part of that is we make a big circle in church and light candles while singing songs. Another way we celebrate Jesus’s birth is we read the Christmas story in the Bible before we open presents.

The Christmas trees and presents also bring me joy. There is this one place where we get our tree where they have free hot chocolate. They also have $1 Smore packs where you can roast it over the fire. Then we stay up late decorating the tree which is really fun. For the presents, my siblings and I get each other presents. In the morning, when we all are woken up, we open presents.

Then we go to either my Grandparents’ or Uncle’s to open presents there.

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What Does The Christmas Spirit Mean To You? - Christmas

Essay Contest - December 8, 2021- 7

The final thing that brings me joy is family. Family makes Christmas much better, especially since my Aunt comes home for it from where she lives in Saudi Arabia. Last year she surprised us by coming around Christmas without us knowing.

This all gives me so much joy. Jesus’ birth, Christmas trees and presents, and family. There are also other things, but those are the best. That is what Christmas Spirit means to me!

then we would most likely head off to bed. The next day would be Christmas Eve. This is when the Christmas Spirit is almost to its highest point. After decorating the tree, hanging up the stockings, and dressing up our dog, we would go outside as a family and maybe even go to a popular sledding place!

We would pack up the sleds in the truck and drive off to a place we like to call Shady Maple Hill. It’s a hill next to Shady Maple that we go to. After a fun day of sledding we would head home and get ready for Christmas!

Jalisa Zimmerman

After a long and peaceful sleep, we would wake up in the morning and see that there were hundreds of presents under the tree! We would open presents and have a delicious breakfast. Gifts all around! But Christmas isn’t just presents and sledding, it is also celebrating the birthday of Jesus who came to save us.

Also, as long as we are together, we will always be a happy family.

Age 14 East Earl

What the Christmas Spirit Means to Me It’s a fresh reminder that baby Jesus was born this day many years ago.

It’s the time of year people try to be nicer and kinder to each other because it’s A Special Season. A time of Happiness, we usually have family gatherings, open little Christmas presents, singing Christmas songs, about Jesus and peace on earth.

Sophia Anson Age 12 East Earl

Topic: What does the Christmas Spirit mean to you?

When Christmas comes around the corner, I think about a white blanket of snow covering the use-to-be corn fields. The snow gently falls on the ground and then lands and covers the ground in more snow. That is what I think when I think of the Christmas Spirit. But that is not all I think of, I also think of fun times outside with my family building snowmen, making forts, and sledding down the tiny hill in our backyard. The trees are bare and there are no leaves to be seen.

Then, after a fun day, I would head inside and have a cup of hot chocolate with a candy cane in the cup. We would get really tired after a fun day and

Jeana Morrison Age 12 Honey Brook

What do people mean when they say they are getting into the Christmas spirit? Well, in this essay I will be telling you what Christmas is to me and why I enjoy it.

Christmas to me is the time of year when everyone is joyful. I watch the colorful flickering lights in our neighborhood, the candles in the windows, and look at the various nativity scenes scattered throughout our house and just can’t help but smile because I remember a Savior who loves me, was born as a baby, on Christmas Day, only centuries ago.

Loribeth Martin Age 11 New Holland

The meaning of Christmas is that baby Jesus was born and came into the world for us poor sinners He died and rose again. Jesus is the Reason for the season. And giving gifts on Christmas as the wisemen gave gifts to Joseph and Mary. Thats why we give gifts on Christmas. Baby Jesus our Dear Savior.

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8 - December 8, 2021 - Christmas

Essay Contest

- What Does The Christmas Spirit Mean To You?

Glenn Shirk

off the ornaments. Our rooms glow with little colored lights. I spend hours surrounded by my crafts, making gifts. Last year I glued sticks together and made a picture frame for my mom.

Dear Christmas spirit I like Christmas because we go to church to here about Jesus when he was born and other interesting story then come home and have a Christmas dinner at our Grandparent’s place or at one of our uncle’s place then after we are finish eating then go and play some exciting games with our cousins then come home and see what is inside our beautiful package and see what our brothers and sisters got to.

Then go to our Grandmother’s place to hear the carolers that sing for the older people. Yet two more year then I can go along. Help make the tasty candy houses with our cousins, and see what nice delicious cookies when we do cookies exchange with our cousins. And see what nice Christmas cards we get from our cousin and customers and give gift cards to our workers from Paul B hardware. And make nice packages to the poor that need things. And a little time after Christmas I am out of school.

Yours truely, Glenn

Another magical part of Christmas is spending time with my family. My cousins and aunts and uncles are abundant. We pick names for gifts and anticipate who has ours. We gather with our instruments and sing Christmas carols. Cousins run around excitedly, filling plates with delicious food and coming back for more. Christ gave us family and that is one of the best presents I could have but he also gave himself and that is the most wonderful of all.

Nick Marth

In our family, we have this wonderful tradition of opening our gifts on Christmas Eve night. As we were opening our gifts, one wintry Christmas night, we heard a knock on the door. When my dad opened the door, standing out in the fifteen degree weather, was a couple who had just moved in next door. This couple had come to our house to give us a yummy cheese ball as a nice, simple christmas gift. They didn’t come to get something in return, but to show us that they were happy to be living next to us.

They took time out of their own Christmas celebration together to show us they cared. I think that the Christmas spirit can mean many things, but above all, it is showing other people you care, because if God did not care about us enough, He would not have sent His Son to ultimately die for us.

We would not be celebrating the coming of the Messiah, the lamb of God, if God did not care. Since God loved us so much, should we not follow His example to show other people that we care? That is what the Christmas spirit means to me.

Age 14 Ephrata

Age 14 Morgantown

Christmas Spirit Now that I am 14, Christmas Spirit has a whole new meaning especially the last year. When I was younger it was about presents. This has been really hard this year even worse since Aug. my aunt died, my mom’s godfather died, Uncle almost died in accident still not sure if he will walk, another uncle has been in hospital few months now, touch and go few time’s. With my allergies and asthma had to be in the hospital. So much going on, now being older and seeing pain in my own life and other’s, want to start early next year for Christmas and see if I can get my football team to put some Christmas spirit in younger children in hospitals alone away from their families. After all it’s about giving not alway’s getting. And if I should win any of the money would start my mission on my sharing Christmas Spirit.

Isabella Kurtz

All the joys of Christmas exist because of Christ’s birth. Because Jesus came, this sinful, sad world can now rejoice. Christmas is a big celebration, welcoming God’s son and filling the world with hope.

Kate Moser Age 14 Ephrata

The Christmas Spirit

Jaden Grace Hoar Age 12 Terre Hill

Age 11 Elverson

What does the Christmas Spirit mean To Me?

Christmas Spirit Snow falls, dancing in the air, clumping on trees, sparkling with every inch.

This is winter snow in the woods where my grandparents live. I will never forget all the beautiful whiteness. Christmas has many memories for me.

We turn on Christmas music and hop in the car on our way to cut the perfect tree. I eagerly open a wrapped ornament; one of my favorite traditions.

Past years’ surprises hang on the tree: little boots, a picture frame, and the most beautiful – a sparkling ballerina. It’s fun to watch my cat playfully pull

When I think of the Christmas Spirit, it makes my hands chilly and my heart warm! I think of love and giving. The Christmas Spirit starts early in my family. We search for special presents that fit into Christmas showboxes and write each child a letter. We pack them up and give them to Samaritan’s Purse. They send them over-seas to kids that may never get any other presents.

The Christmas Spirit means Christmas lights twinkling in the dark evenings. Wrapping presents for my family and friends, spending time baking

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What Does The Christmas Spirit Mean To You? - Christmas

cookies and decorating our house with my mom. Picking a Christmas tree and decorating it with my parents. Going to my grandparent’s house for dinner where there is lots of delicious food and all of my family.

But, most important, the Christmas Spirit means celebrating the birth of Jesus! I love to go to Christmas eve service at our church with family. I love the live nativity. And at the end of the service, we each light a candle from the person beside us and sing Silent Night by candle light. This is what the Christmas Spirit means to me!

E. Joel Fox Age 14 Narvon

Jeffrey Martin Age 12 Ephrata

I have twin cousins: Their names are Julia and Jillain. They need a liver transplant. If they eat some things they can get very sick. Rosene and Suzanne are going to give part of their liver. They will be in the hospital a long time and they will not get paid. They just want to help Julia and Jillain. that is the true spirit of Christmas.

Liesl Wenger Age 12 Denver

The Christmas Spirit

So, what is the Christmas Spirit? Why do we all have this good feeling about Christmas?

Are we just super excited to open our Christmas gifts and talk to family and friends? If that’s true, then why don’t we feel the same feelings before birthday parties?

Let me tell you why. I think it is the feeling of Hope. If you think about it, what are most Christmas movies about? There about Hope, why? It’s because Jesus Christ brings Hope, and here’s how.

God is perfect and, most importantly, holy. We are the exact opposite, so how could we have a relationship with God. It would be like cops and robbers being best friends; It just doesn’t work. God gave us Jesus to take all our debt and all our sin upon himself and die with it. That’s why the wisemen came, that’s why the angels sang, and that’s why the shepherds left their sheep to see Him, the Son of God. God’s Son came to give us a chance to confess our sins and have a relationship with Him. God gave us Hope.

That’s what I think this feeling is hope. Hope for a better life, a better leader, and a better home.

Essay Contest - December 8, 2021- 9

What Christmas Means to Me Christmas is my favorite holiday. I love the weather and the gifts. I love the pine tree scent that fills the air. Most importantly, though, I love the story behind Christmas. No, it is not about presents, it is not about Christmas cheer, either. It is about Jesus, a sweet, innocent, pure baby boy sent down from heaven to live in this dark, cruel world we call home.

He came to be a light, to give us hope for the future. I am afraid that the generation I am growing up in is forgetting what Christmas really means. It is not longer “it’s the thought that counts”. We wonder if we will get the new iPhone12 for Christmas, and when we do not, we are filled with disappointment.

Of course, there is nothing wrong with liking Christmas because of gifts (I do!), but I believe it is important to hold on to the real reason we celebrate Christmas: to rejoice about Jesus, the Light in a dark world. That is what Christmas means to me.

Ada Miller Age 12 Ephrata

Suzanna Martin 12 years Denver

“What Christmas Means To Me”

What Christmas Means To Me

“Christmas” as we call it nowadays, is when Jesus was born. And I’m very greatful that he came to the earth to save our sins.

When the day before Christmas comes around, all the school children are excited about getting packages. We sit on a blanket and the teacher read stories about the Jesus our Savior. On Christmas we go to the church to hear how Jesus came as a little baby. Then after church we go to our good friends for a delicious dinner. M-M-M-M

Kayla Weaver Age 12 New Holland

What Do the Christmas Spirit Mean To You? To me, the Christmas spirit means a few things. The first, and most important thing, is remembering Jesus’ birth. In my family, it is very important that we focus on this since it is what Christmas is all about. We like to get in the Christmas spirit by listening and singing along to Christmas carols. At my grandparents’ house, we also act out the Christmas story. My cousins and I all have a special part in the story that we act out for our parents. It reminds us what Christmas is all about. We also like to participate in Operation Christmas Child, which is a Christian organization the gives gifts to needy children in other countries. It’s fun picking out items that you know the child will really appreciate. It also makes me appreciate all that I have.

I think giving is another important part of the Christmas spirit, because it shows love for others. It makes me think back to when Jesus was born and the three Wisemen brought gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. I love seeing the joy and happiness on my family’s faces when they receive gifts.

It reminds me to always cherish what I have because some other families can’t afford to get their kids presents each year for Christmas.

Christmas is such a special time of year. I’ve already started to feel the excitement of it, and look forward to celebrating it with my family and friends.

Matthew 1:21-25 says: 21. And she shall bring forth a son, And thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins. 22. Now all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophets, saying, 23. Behold, a virgin shall be with the child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. 24. Than Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, And took unto him his wife: 25. And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: And he called his name JESUS. I enjoy going to family-get-togethers on Christmas. And if we don’t have arguements just all be friendly and peaceful. Also when we all sing some nice songs. Also like it when people give gifts to the neady people.

Martha Miller Age 13 Ephrata

“What Christmas means to ME” Jesus was born that day. He brought joy to the world. Every time Christmas comes thats why I’m happy and Joyful. Later he made a way for us sinners to get to Heaven. I’m so glad that Jesus was born.

It also means gifts, family gatherings, lots of good food and candy.

I asked my sister (6) what Christmas means to her. She said, “Good”. She meant God. Thats really how I feel. Jesus was born! I just can’t put it in words.

Jesus means so much to me. I like the song, “What A friend we have in Jesus”. We would not have that song if Jesus would not have been born.

Merry Christmas, Martha

Essay Contest

- What Does The Christmas Spirit Mean To You?

Kiran Wisneski

Kylie Martin

Ring Ring Ring. Ho Ho Ho! Those are sleigh bells and merry laughter you hear. To me the Christmas Spirit is one of giving, love, and helping one another. When people give to others, they often feel good inside and happy. I know whenever I give for good, I feel wonderful. During Christmas, my family and I donate to people in need, and we spread Christmas cheer by caroling and other methods. By doing so we contribute to the giving of the Christmas Spirit. I believe that giving to others, especially during Christmas time, is a way to help those in need and bring cheer to those who are or are not in need.

The Christmas Spirit brings so much love. Love for family and friends, love for happy times, and love of the holiday. When I think of love for family and friends, good times come to mind. Sledding, playing in the snow, building Gingerbread houses, and many more times. Happy times are so much a part of the Christmas Spirit. For these times are also happy times. Happy times can also be making others happy. Many times a year I go and perform a concert for residents at a nursing home. I often will do a Christmas concert during the Christmas season.

This brings joy, memories, and creates happy times for the residents. I use the Christmas spirit to create happy times for others.

Helping others is a key asset to life. If people never helped each other, the world would not be doing well. Christmas is one of the many times we should help each other. During the Christmas season, my family and I donate to a cause called World Vision. What this does is takes the money we donate and uses it to feed, give things too, and help kids and people in need. If all people would make one small contribution like this the world could start to have peace on earth.

To conclude, I want to say that the Christmas Spirit is many ways of giving, love and helping each other. People should always give to each other and care for one another, in order to make the world a better place. We all should also remember to love our family, friends, and one another. Help each other out, help those in need, and help out during Christmas and always. Remember that the Christmas Spirit is one of love, giving, and helping.

Christmas Spirit

Age 12 East Earl

Age 13 Morgantown

Jonathan Nelson Morgantown

The Best Thing in the World I do just adore Christmas not just Christmas itself but all the excitement and joy such as: snow, presents,stockings, and all the other things we get to do.

I have eight other siblings I typically receive many presents. I also really like all the birds in the winter, birds are my favorite. I believe Christmas is about not just giving but giving with love. The Christmas spirit is a great feeling you can appreciate, getting stockings is so much fun I think they’re the most fun you never know what’s at the bottom, giving presents is also a lot of fun I love to find people happy that’s a true joy. The true meaning of Christmas is something to cherish for if there was no birth of Jesus Christ we wouldn’t be able to treasure eternal life. Christmas is a great holiday spending time with family on the couch in the morning. I reckon people should gather gift bags and go around their neighborhood and hand them out to everybody, the little things make people happy that’s one way to get the Christmas spirit out.

My favorite thing to do at Christmas time is gathering around family opening presents that’s the best thing in the world.

Many special occasions occur at Christmastime. Gifts, traditional foods, and candy all bring happiness to each one. I always love this joyful time of year.

But a very long time ago, Mary and Joseph tiredly trudged up just one more hill. They had traveled a long way to Bethlehem because Caesar Augustus wanted all the world to be taxed. Together they finally reached an inn where they could spend the night. Joseph asked the innkeeper if there was room. Sadly the innkeeper replyed, “This inn is full, but there is room in the stable.”

So Mary and Joseph went on to the stable. It was a dirty place where cows, donkeys, sheep, and other animals were kept. They parked their donkey, and made a bed for themselves. That night Mary gave birth to King Jesus in that stable. She wrapped him in a cloth, and laid Him in a manger filled with straw.

When Jesus would grow up, He would die on the cross for every person’s sins.

Christmas is a time to remember King Jesus’ birth in the table. The true Christmas Spirit is based on the fact that Jesus was born in that lonely stable on the first Christmas Day. That is what Christmas is all about!

Olivia Lapp Age 13 New Holland

Winter is an amazing time of year! Everybody huddles around the fireplace, blankets wrapped around one and all, and the soft snow falling from the white sky. Parents staying home from work on a snowy day makes a fun bonding time for the family. And, of course, Christmas which includes presents, family, food, and much more. It is definitely my most favorite holiday. The spirit of Christmas is when everybody is feeling excited. There is so much joy that lots of us cannot sleep the night before christmas! We are too busy thinking about opening presents and sitting around the table with the family eating chicken and the sugar cookies!

When you are around all of your friends you get to tell them what you are going to get to do during the holiday, and what presents you asked for. When Christmas is over you share everything that happened. This includes what presents you got, or that you built a giant snowman, and maybe what kind of cookies you made.

One of my most favorite parts is opening the gifts! You literally can not help it but smile! And then the face you make when you see what you got is totally priceless to the parents as they record and snap pictures for heartwarming memories. Some people might not know this, but it is as much joy to give someone a present and to see their reaction! It fills you with this amazing feeling that can be better than opening a present that you have been wishing for all of those years!

But the real, true meaning is that a hero came into our world that day, which we cannot forget. Christmas is Jesus’s birthday.

And that is, the true meaning of what the Spirit of Christmas means to me.

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10 - December 8, 2021 - Christmas

Mae Basehore

What Does The Christmas Spirit Mean To You? - Christmas

Age 14 East Earl

What the Christmas Spirit Means to Me The wonderful festive feeling surrounding Christmastime means something different for every person. For me, a big part of the Christmas spirit is my environment, and the weather. Another important part of Christmas is spending time with family. For me, this can also mean spending time with my grandparents, at their house or at my other grandparents’ cabin. Christmas is also a time for reflection and being thankful for what you have. One more thing that I consider part of the Christmas spirit is giving to other people.

The environment that I am surrounded by contributes to how I perceive the Christmas spirit. The crisp, chill weather in the autumn and early winter makes me think of Christmas. When the leaves begin to fall, I am surrounded by a constant reminder that winter is coming. With the turning of the seasons as the cool wind begins to whisper through the colorful leaves, a beautiful, magical feeling fills the air. The first snowflakes signify the beginning of the season for fireplaces and hot chocolate.

The Christmas spirit also means spending time with those you hold dear.

It’s a time for love, and remembering what’s important. Christmas is for reunion, and celebrating another year gone by. To me, sharing memories with your loved ones, and becoming closer to them is a fundamental part of the magic of Christmas. The Christmas spirit also represents reflecting on your life, and how you can improve yourself. My favorite part of the Christmas spirit is being able to give people meaningful gifts from my heart.

Overall, to me, the Christmas Spirit means love, happiness, and remembering what matters. Christmas time helps make the world more incredible. The Christmas spirit may mean different things for different people, but Christmas time is a magical time of year for all.

Mariah Santiago Age 13 New Holland

It’s The Most Wonderful Time of The Year I love Christmas, it’s my favorite time of the year. There’s so much fun stuff to do as a family; which I feel like we don’t do enough. We are always on our phones or watching TV these days. The true meaning of Christmas spirt to me is family and the memories we make together because memories last longer then present. As a family we do a lot of fun traditions.

Every year right after Thanksgiving my family puts up our Christmas tree. I love decorating the Christmas tree! We have so many family ornament’s that by the end we are running out of space on the tree. Christmas music plays and the whole room if filled with cheer and joy.

Another tradition is making Christmas cookies with my cousin. She comes over every year and we make different kinds of cookies and decorate them.

At the end, the kitchen would look like a stampede ran through it. Later that night we build a gingerbread house, which overnight my cat would eat the candy off of it. This is probably one of my favorite traditions.

Near Christmas our church participates in supporting Samaritans Purse (Operation Christmas Child). This is where you purchase items for children in other countries. We go to the store and purchase gifts and assemble to the boxes together.

Every year for Christmas we go up to my Great-Granny’s house for Christmas Eve. There we have a theme for the evening, which is always pancakes and pajamas. For dinner we have pancakes and bacon with loaded hash browns.

Mmmm it’s so good. Then we sit and open presents together as a family.

These are some of my favorite family traditions. This is why the Spirit of Christmas to me means family and the memories we make together.

Matlyn Rhoades Age 12 Denver

Christmas spirit is how someone acts who loves Christmas and shows it by being kind to others. Also, it is the spirit of wanted to give and help people in need. People who have Christmas spirit are cheerful and happy about celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ. Christmas spirit is basically being cheery

Essay Contest - December 8, 2021- 11

and nice around the holiday. A big way people show Christmas spirit is by caroling. People also show Christmas cheer by giving gifts and decorating for the holiday. Also, by wishing a merry Christmas to others and donating to the poor. Christmas spirit is one’s feeling and attitude toward Christmas.

People who are full of Christmas spirit usually are nice to others. Like if someone has no family or friends to see during the holidays they might invite them to come to their house for Christmas. Also, they might help someone decorate for the holidays. Plus, Christmas is all about giving and spending time with family so people with Christmas cheer might give someone a present. Another way people act toward others is cheery. They can be cherry by cheering someone up. They also act positively toward others so if someone does not have any Christmas spirit you give an act of kindness to that person.

Basically, people with Christmas spirit are helpful and cheerful to others.

That’s what the Christmas spirit means to me.

Nate Williams Age 11 Morgantown

Christmas Spirit The smell of cinnamon rolls, the thrill of seeing the pile of presents under the tree, waking up the parents WAY too early. In our family we deliver cookies to our neighbors, and camp out under our Christmas tree! These things all add up to one thing CHRISTMAS. Lots of things bring me job, but nothing is as exhilarating as tearing through that wrapping … to find it’s the LEGO set I’ve always wanted! But wait! What’s better than all this? The best present ever given to anyone is Jesus Christ.

Over 2,000 years ago a baby was born and he was named Jesus (Luke 2).

Our Lord loved us so much that he sent his only son to died the most horrible death, (Luke 23: 6-49) and to rise from the dead three days later. Jesus defeated death and sin when he died on the cross and rose again, and whoever believes in him will go to Heaven when they die (John 3:16). If you want to believe in him it’s a simple as A-B-C. It’s easy to become a believer as admitting, believing, and calling. The first step is to pray and ADMIT to God that you are a sinner. Everyone is, but God will forgive you if you BELIEVE that Jesus died for you. Finally you need to CALL on Jesus to forgive your sins. The gift of Jesus has changed my life in many ways, but the biggest way is that I now have a calling and I can bring this joy I have to others, even through an essay. So, what does Christmas spirit mean to me? Christmas spirit is joy, and true joy comes from the gift of Jesus. Sneaking a few Christmas cookies doesn’t hurt either. Merry Christmas!

Mary Kathryn Lapp Age 13 New Holland

What The Christmas Spirit Means To Me

Christmas; what a crazy time of year!! Isn’t it such a warm cozy feeling as we read the story of Jesus Christ, our Savior’s birth? How he was born in a manger so long ago. Then the angels sang to the shepherds, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men!” What an amazing story!

Here are some cozy memories that I have from celebrating Christmas. Usually we need to eat breakfast AND do the dishes before we get our gifts from Dad and Mom. The we all sit on the couch as Daddy gives us our gifts, one by one, (our gifts are usually on top of Mom’s China Hutch.) and Daddy gets a kick out of teasing us about our gifts as me and my four brothers all sit (or jump) eagerly on the couch J Or other times all of my aunts and uncles and their children on my Dad’s side of the family all get together at my Grandpa’s. We eat a huge, delicious meal and sing Christmas songs. Then, instead of exchanging gifts with each other, we fill baskets with food, gifts and other things and give them to people who need cheer. (My grandpa’s still give us grandchildren gifts yet.)

Sometime then, my aunts and uncles and their children on my Mom’s side of the family get together and we eat and sing and my Grandpa’s (on my Mom’s side) gives us gifts yet too. We also have a wonderful times with our cousins.

And how exciting it is if we wake up on Christmas morning and peep out the window and ….it’s snowing! J What fun it is to run outside in the fluffy, white snow! Making snowmen and snow angels and just simply having fun!

Merry Christmas, Everyone! *The End*

12 - December 8, 2021 - Christmas

Essay Contest

- What Does The Christmas Spirit Mean To You?

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