Christmas lights glowing on the tree, stockings hung up by the fire and a plate full of cookies for Santa carefully laid out on a special plate: These are the things most people imagine when they picture childhood Christmas celebrations. For most, they think of these times with fondness, remembering the days when Santa was real and Christmas day was the best time of the year. Now, many teens are trying to find a way to bring back that Christmas magic that made the holiday so special.
“I remember getting dragged around by my dad in a sled,” said Ezra Myan, junior. “It was a good memory and you see it in Christmas movies, it was very holly jolly in spirit”
While it may feel that this special Christmas experience is behind us, students can still bring back the nostalgia of the holiday season. A great way to start is to go back to the things that made your childhood Christmas so special. Maybe it was a certain food, a tradition or even just sitting down to write your Christmas list to Santa. Find ways to bring these memories back into your holiday celebrations; many students like to help their family decorate the Christmas tree, or to re-watch all the movies they loved as kids. Nostalgic films like “Home Alone”, “The Grinch Who Stole Christmas” and “Elf” are great films to watch with a cup of hot cocoa and a cozy blanket.
For many students, movies are what make the season special. “I really like Christmas because some of those movies I grew up with, not from my childhood but from my parents’ childhood,” said Maja McCarthy, a junior. “It’s fun how nostalgia gets passed down from generation to generation.”
Another way to bring back the nostalgia is to bring back the excitement often felt around Christmas time. Planning different seasonal events, like ice skating with friends or a movie marathon, can give you something to look forward to. Many students celebrate by hosting Christmas parties with their friends and doing activities like secret santa, cookie decorating or garland making.
Holiday themed crafting can also bring out the nostalgia. Making gingerbread houses, home made ornaments or holiday cards is a great way to combine the themes of the season with a childhood activity. Baking can also bring back the nostalgic feeling by giving students the tastes and smells of their childhood. Breaking out the old family recipes and making them with your family will bring back the full sensory experience of Christmas.
Most of all, the Christmas season is about celebrating with the people you love; spending time with family is many Pacers’ favourite part of the holiday season.
“Christmas to me is having my whole family at my grandparents, all my siblings at my dads house opening presents around the tree” said junior Audrey Deshane.
It might be cheesy, but at the heart of the Christmas season is the memories students share with their family and friends. The biggest part of nostalgia is the people you share it with, and including them in your holiday traditions is an amazing way to bring back the nostalgia of your childhood. And while you try to bask in the nostalgia, don’t forget to make new memories too.
