Masuk Free Press

Whether it is Christmas, Easter or Thanksgiving, holidays used to be seen as the greatest day of the year to us from the standards of joy, faith and togetherness. Many get excited thinking about the festive drinks, decor and even going shopping. However, as teens start to grow older, the “magic” of the season gradually starts to erode and becomes somewhat of a chore. 

While some feel that the holiday spirit has dissipated as they become older, others still find the magic to be there, as it is a way to spend time with friends and family. 

Take, for example, Christmas. Undoubtedly the most favored and famous holiday in the world, it is celebrated by over 90 percent of Americans, according to recent data from Gintux. Look back to the past and you will find the joy of leaving out cookies and milk for Santa, the restless sleep you get on Christmas Eve from excitement, to finally opening presents and finding the new Lego set you wanted. Now, think back to present day Christmas. Is it as magical as it used to be?

For many students, after learning the truth about Santa, the harsh realities start to come into play and Christmas is just not as special as it was. With a holiday like Easter, children would see the Easter Bunny and have fun egg hunts filled with candy to celebrate. Without the addition of believing in something as a child, the fun of the holidays is easily lost.  

“During Christmas when I was younger I used to believe in Santa but now I know the truth and don’t. It makes it not really the same fun anymore, as the holiday spirit just isn’t the same,” said sophomore Marylynn Thattil. 

One thing students find in common when losing their cheerful spirit is the dynamic change in one’s family. Parents, when their kids are still children, want to bring them joy and make it possible for them to experience the marvelousness of the holidays. They make it so that their children can have the memories of wonder and traditions. However, as one grows older, roles start to shift and parents start to dial down on the holiday spirit as their kids become teenagers. 

“I definitely don’t think I enjoy the holidays as much as I used to,” said freshman Grace Morrow. “My parents don’t really treat holidays the same anymore because they feel like they did their part in making my childhood as best as possible when I was younger.”

When people start to grow up and mature, the roles of the holidays tend to switch, which means that the receivers will then have to become the givers. As a new generation is born and this one ages, we will have to start buying more gifts for others and not receive so many. Even for holidays like Easter or Valentines Day, our generation will now have to buy the chocolates and candy for the next.

“Yeah, I’ve bought gifts for my family and I think it might take away the magic because you aren’t receiving the same amount of gifts as you were as a child,” said junior Jillian Kilcullen. 

Responsibilities seem to also make the list of reasons why the magic is dying down. Some can even find the holidays stressful as the responsibilities start to pile up. Things like buying and wrapping gifts for your family to cooking up all different kinds of dishes for Easter or Thanksgiving can quickly become overwhelming. 

Other than festive responsibilities, students have exams right around the time of the holidays. Midterms are just a couple weeks after winter break ends and AP tests are around the time of spring break, often close to Easter. 

“I still get homework sometimes during the holidays and it really ruins my mood for the actual day,” continued Thattil. “I’ve always loved Christmas but the thought of midterms and the stress sometimes makes it not as enjoyable. I’m always worrying about something.” 

Others, however, have contrasting opinions, saying that the holiday spirit still lasts when growing up. They see it as a crucial part in being able to spend time with family and experience traditions that they made when they were young, making the fun and spirit remain forever. 

“My family and I always go to my grandmas house for Thanksgiving in Massachusetts. I like being able to see and spend time with my family because I only visit them a few times a year. We also after the day of Thanksgiving, go see the Christmas lights at La Salette,” said sophomore Brady Ebner. “That tradition is one of my favorites and always makes me enjoy the time around Thanksgiving.”

Some teens also still have younger siblings in their family. This allows them to maintain the marvel of Santa and their other childhood stories. 

“I have two younger brothers that still believe in Santa, so obviously we do things like the cookies, Elf on the Shelf and the Santa part,” continued Ebner. “I think that part makes it still fun to me because I have the same experiences from when I was a kid to now.” 

While teens are faced with the fact of having to mature and grow up, a part of that experience is losing some of the joy that comes from holidays. It is a fact that none of us no teen wants to come to terms with: the holidays just are not the same as when you were a kid. Even though some of the experiences we had when we were younger are gone, the holidays are still a way to cherish precious time by spending it with friends and family.