Is Christmas The Holiday We All Love Most? By: Alissa Alvarado

Christmas has long held a special place in the hearts of people across the world, blending ancient traditions, family customs, and cultural celebrations into one unforgettable season.  From decorating trees to exchanging gifts and sharing meals, the holiday inspires joy, togetherness, and reflection on what matters most in life. According to Nami a article website shows , “Past experiences profoundly shape holiday feelings by creating strong emotional associations with traditions, people, and places, triggering either joy, nostalgia, or pain, stress, and grief, depending on whether memories are positive (love, security) or negative (trauma, loss, conflict), often amplified by social comparison and the pressure for perfection. Rituals, scents, and sounds act as powerful memory cues, bringing back intense feelings from childhood or past relationships, making the present feel connected to—or a stark contrast with—the past.” Alex Malendez, a student a Hillgrove High school states “Obviously your past experience are always gonna  indicated how you view things later in life personally I have a positive view about Christmas its always just happy times, its greater expectations of what you're gonna get.” Ultimately, Christmas remains a deeply personal experience, shaped by the unique things of each person’s memories, relationships, and traditions. Whether filled with joy, nostalgia, or reflection, the holiday continues to connect us to both our past and the people making it a season of a enduring meaning. 

Holidays often come with sights, sounds, and smells that instantly spark memories. From twinkling lights to familiar songs, the season evokes feelings that are hard to put into words. According to Golden “The spirit of a favorite holiday, often Christmas, is a blend of cozy nostalgia, joyful connection, and selfless giving, characterized by twinkling lights, festive traditions, creating warm atmospheres, sharing love and kindness with family/community, and a general feeling of peace, hope, and gratitude that lifts spirits and encourages generosity, even in simple acts.” Matthew Evans a junior, at Hillgrove explains  “So to me my favorite holiday is Christmas and to me you know it's like you know the decorations helping your family set up decisions you know the feeling of giving back buying gifts for your love ones and friends and  the food  can't forget about the food.” The spirit of a holiday is felt in the little moments that bring people together, from shared traditions to acts of kindness. These experiences leave lasting impressions, reminding us why certain holidays hold a special place in our hearts. 

As we grow older, the way we experience and connect with Christmas can change unexpected ways. Each stage of life brings new perspectives, responsibilities, and emotions that shape the holiday’s meaning. In an article The MV Current “Age and life stages shift Christmas connection from childlike wonder (presents, Santa) to familial joy (giving, traditions, togetherness) in adulthood, then to quiet reflection and simple meaning (comfort, connection, purpose) in later life, with the "magic" evolving from receiving to giving, creating new memories, and appreciating simple comforts like carols or shared meals, even as it can become less novel but more meaningful.” Christian Marshall, a junior a Hillgrove explains his experience with growing old with Christmas “As I get older ill start giving kore thoughtful gifts like for example I'm giving my mom this hat she really wanted like then like giving her like a gift card or something in putting more thought into now as I'm getting more older” holiday’s true value grows deeper with age, rooted in connection, thoughtfulness, and cherished memories. As our lives change, so does the way we celebrate and appreciate Christmas, shifting from excitement over presents to the joy of giving and sharing meaningful moments.