I was the young age of nine when I found out the magic of Christmas was fake. My mom sat me down at our tiny dining room table to explain all these years of setting cookies and milk out for Santa Claus and making Christmas wish lists to send with my elf to the North Pole, was a lie.
However, that Christmas didn’t feel any different than all the others. The magical feel of Christmas was still there. So, as a teenager, why does it feel so disappointing?
Growing into a teenager comes with an ample amount of new responsibilities and realizations. As we grow older, we become more aware of the secrets around us. With this comes the recognition that Christmas is not like it was when we were kids. Yes, it’s still a time of relaxation and happiness, but worries and stress in our lives make that time not so joyful.
Sometimes, those two weeks off of school become exhausting due to homework teachers assign or studying for that next unit test in Algebra. Or perhaps they’re spent working long hours to cover expenses and save up for the future.
The holidays as a teenager feel so different because we are becoming adults. There is no time to act like a child anymore. We can’t afford to act as if we don’t have other expectations and concerns to put first. We’re aging out of Christmas.
As young adults, we have to mature. Pushing everything out of the way to have a child-like Christmas experience is not an option. It’s upsetting to think that our past Christmases were the last of being a child, but it’s the reality.
We no longer get up at 5 a.m. to see what Santa brought or get so excited the night before that it takes hours to fall asleep.
Many teens with younger siblings feel that their parents are more excited to watch their siblings open gifts than watching them. In my case, I feel the same. It’s a part of being a teenager. The excitement is amped down so much in such a short time.
Participating in Christmas activities such as decorating, watching movies, and ice skating has become more enjoyable than the day itself. The merriness of the holiday has bypassed our generation. Hopefully, in future years, the spirit of Christmas will resurface in our hearts once more.
