Holiday prep tops celebration

By Haley Xue, Op-Ed Editor

As Dec. 25 quickly approaches, I find myself feeling a little sad that Christmas is so near. It’s bittersweet knowing that it’s already Dec. 21, because it means that the holiday season is soon coming to an end.

Perhaps I’m looking too far ahead, but my love for the holidays is mainly because of the month-long anticipation beforehand. It’s the red bows and festive lights that are set up a month in advance that make the holiday season all the more enjoyable.

While many people complain about Christmas music in November, I think that there’s nothing wrong with starting preparations for Christmas, and the holiday season in general, a little early. It’s the waiting for something special while going to work and school that makes us feel like little kids again.

So instead of groaning about old holidays songs, consider taking the time to enjoy the festive mood.

The build-up before the holidays allows people to take time to savor the cheerful atmosphere and have a more positive attitude. The happier sentiments surrounding the holiday season is what makes it all the more special. In fact, results from a recent Gallup poll showed that 65 percent of Americans were the happiest and least stressed in the days prior to and on Christmas Day out of all 365 days of the year.

Baking gingerbread houses and sugar cookies, singing holiday carols and telling holiday stories in front of a cozy fire allows us to feel that child-like excitement.

Besides being able to watch more holiday plays and hang more garlands and snowflakes, earlier preparations help people to embrace the holiday spirit, something that might not be accomplished by cramming the holiday season into two short weeks.

During the build-up of anticipation for the holidays, family traditions encourage togetherness and give us that warm-fuzzy feeling. Perhaps it’s setting up a Christmas tree together for Christmas, making potato latkes for Hanukkah or lighting a kinara for Kwanzaa.

Even at Conestoga, we have our own holiday traditions that help spread the holiday spirit. The winter concert usually includes a holiday song or two, and music students parade through the hallways, serenading the school with holiday carols right before winter break. It’s the annual holiday traditions that remind us that the best gifts aren’t always wrapped in wrapping paper under the Christmas tree and help build up the excitement before the celebrations begin.

While some may grow weary of the extended celebration of the holidays, it’s an important time for people to get into the holiday spirit and enjoy the festive mood. No matter what religion we practice or where we’re from, we all can spread the holiday cheer and enjoy the smiles and excitement of the season.

Without the build-up of anticipation for the holidays, it just wouldn’t be the same, so as the last bows are put on top of the presents, I plan to savor the joy of the holidays for as long as I can.

Haley Xue can be reached at hxue@stoganews.com.