Pungent smells come through the door every holiday: cinnamon, gingerbread, and hot chocolate. Alongside their strong allure to the holiday season are the nostalgic and familial connections that spurt into our minds at least a couple of days a year. In the face of their absence, the holidays would lose their magic entirely.
At the very top of that tree of happiness and attachment to the holidays is nostalgia. As Dr. Bacho explains, “memories are reawakened and relationships are renewed” (APA). It’s the association of “good” and “familiar” with the set conditions of the holiday season that allows nostalgia to make its timely appearance. Lydia Lin (12), from Yorba Linda High School, shares the “set conditions” of her childhood that contributed to her love for Christmas: “I used to have a family tradition where we went up to Utah to snowboard. Christmas for me generally meant spending a week in a cabin in Utah just spending time with my family, so I start to feel nostalgic during December” (Lin).
The holidays are a reminder that our place in society isn’t that of isolation; it’s one that highlights close connections and the importance of those relations. In a time where “loneliness has become a public crisis,” friendships and social bonds are ever more fulfilling, and increasingly prompted by celebrations and parties that take place during the holidays (WJS). Kiany Gomez (11) adds the following: “I love winter break because it’s when I actually get to hang out with my friends and go to Christmas events. Honestly, I just love to walk around with other people” (Gomez).
On a less sentimental note, this “yearning” for Christmas is also caused by a long-held tradition: gift giving. Although Gift-giving is perceived as an action of affection, it often means going to your nearest JC Penny to get the best of the holiday sales, or simply an opportunity to get great things for a great price. Although, according to Forbes Magazine, “shoppers are expected to pull back” this year due to rising costs (Forbes). On a personal level, I like to wait for the holiday season to arrive just so I can get gifts for my family and close friends, and low prices are a definite incentive. Not that I’m particularly inclined towards the “cheaper” form of gift-giving, but I have never met someone who doesn’t like a good deal. I admit unapologetically, that sometimes I just go to get good deals for myself.
Regardless of what Christmas may mean to you—family, love, gifts, good deals, and the eve of nostalgia—it stirs something soft in each of us: the yearning for Christmas.
