PIRATE PRESS othspiratepress.com
December 2021 What does Christmas mean to you? There are so many different ways to celebrate Christmas: stay at home with family, go out with friends or both. When do you open presents: in the morning or evening? Is there religion involved? Regardless of differences, you would not believe how many people think the same thing: Christmas means family. Although, family is not the focus for everyone. Some are sad that loved ones have passed away and that they can’t spend more time with them. “I used to go to my grandma’s with my dad, but now they both have passed, and her house was sold,” junior Isabella Montez said. Some think Christmas is overrated. “Christmas means people commercializing the whole concept and people getting into fights over things that don’t matter because of the stress of the holidays,” former student Mia Carrera said. Some just miss being a kid. “As a child, Christmas was always a very magical time of year. Of course, it meant time off from school, and the last day was usually a wonderful Christmas party with gift exchanges and a movie.
Vol. 8 , Issue 2
That Time of the Year Again Senior Allison Shew
The last tree lit up during the Festival of Lights in the middle of the Chris Kringle Market. Photo courtesy of Tanya Bappert.
As an adult, things are different, but I still love the decorating, the baking, the lights, the movies, the family time, and most of all, seeing that special feeling that can never be replicated sparkling in the eyes of the kids in my family,” former student Tanya Bappert said. But back to the popular opinion of Christmas: family. Why? Maybe it’s the snow that is keeping everyone locked up inside, forcing people to make do with what they have. Maybe it’s the fact that we want to see each other smile when they open a gift. Maybe because it was the only holiday when everyone sat down, there was peace. Yes, there will be fighting before and after, of course, but you cannot recreate that moment of pure family, not like in the movies, anywhere else. Dad shoving all the torn wrapping paper in a garbage bag, Mom sipping her coffee and you tearing into gifts one after another. Yes, that “Christmas magic” changes once you start to grow up, but does it ever really go away? That’s up to you. Just remember, have a Merry Christmas.