Christmas has long been held to a standard of joy, togetherness, and faith. Many feel like this, getting excited about the fall and winter season. But some people think differently about the holiday season, specifically teenagers. Some think the “magic” is fading. The existential dread of growing up, and large final exams dominating their brains during the holiday season.
Based on research and interviews, I calculated a list of a few reasons why this happens:
- Responsibilities: As we grow, responsibilities just seem to pile on. Whether it’s being responsible for supplying gifts for your family, working on Christmas, or worrying about exams, they all can hold us back from experiencing the enjoyment of the season. Senior Stella Edwards talked about being too stressed about busy schedules, and said:
“I can’t find the time to sit back and enjoy the winter activities, there’s too much sh*t on my plate as a 17-year-old in high school, even though it’s our last year being ‘kids.’ Yeah, right.”
- Family changes: Families can split, move, and shift in all sorts of ways. Sometimes, this affects how we can enjoy things or our usual process of participating in the holiday. The holidays are a time of reflection, as teens become more attuned to their complex dynamics, the idyllic images of perfect celebrations with perfect families may not align with their own experience.
“Bruh yeah, my family is, like, depressing as hell now,” said senior Lulu Marsh “And yeah, it happened as I got older.”
As we become older, being the kid on Christmas obviously deteriorates, leaving a sort of awkwardness when there are no children in the home.
- High expectations, bland realities: The commercialization and materialism of Christmas, we see on TV and in media can create high expectations. Imagine this: overly excited family gatherings laughing over a glazed ham, everyone gathered around a giant 15-foot tree, thousands of dollars worth of string lights on the magnificent house with the brand new SUV out front adorned with a red bow, yeah, that stuff. This all comes from car ads. This hype can make people excited and ready for the holidays, which isn’t bad, but it’s discouraging for many when they turn off the TV and sit in the reality that they face.
People hold onto this negative outlook on holidays into adulthood as well, feeling bitter about the subject.
“I used to hate Christmas, it was depressing. I wouldn’t put a tree up or anything […]” said substitute teacher Jeff DeMark.
“It wasn’t until a few years ago that I was told [Christmas] was to celebrate the solstice…and family…and realized then that the commercialization of [Christmas] wasn’t really what it’s all about.”
There are many reasons for an overhyped Christmas, but it’s key to remember it’s not about the commercialization of materialism, and actually a time of being grateful for what you already have.
“Now I take my grown-up kids and wife to Hawaii every year on Christmas; to be with who you love is what it’s about.”
