Once again, Christmas has come back into everyone’s lives and is a gentle reminder to spread our appreciation and compassion for family and friends. Whether it is opening and giving gifts to loved ones, making dinner and sweet treats, seeing bright Christmas lights, and the plethora of other Christmas-themed events, it’s evident that this holiday has an impact on all people who celebrate Christmas. With all the different festivities and events, it’s important to look at what Christmas means to everyone as other perspectives can be seen to make the holiday more meaningful and compassionate. The Trend’s editorial staff has compiled our Christmas experiences and how they reflect what this holiday truly means for us.
Gary Jackson, Editor-in-Chief
What does Christmas mean to me? Well, I don’t think the holiday is wrapped around one aspect or another. I think the culmination of all the events with my family and friends makes Christmas a meaningful holiday. My family typically watches holiday-themed movies like “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation”, “Home Alone”, “Eight Crazy Nights”, and others throughout December. We also decorate our Christmas tree with various ornaments that my two brothers and I collected over the years. The entire month of December is filled with Christmas cheer in my family, and we use that to grow a closer bond and connection.
Christmas Eve and Christmas Day are very busy in my household, as my stepdad’s family comes on Christmas Eve and we all open our gifts from that side of the family. Christmas Day is when my brothers and I get to see what Santa Claus brought to us and finish opening the gifts that had remained. Later that morning, my family has a Christmas lunch that is similar to a Thanksgiving meal. Finally, I go to visit my dad and spend time with him and exchange presents with that side of my family.
Now, this would probably seem like a typical Christmas to most who are reading this, but I wanted to take some time and reflect on how valuable this is to me. It’s astonishing that we all get to have the time to be with our families and show our appreciation and gratitude toward each other. I’m extremely thankful that my family is as close as it is, and that we get to spend this time making memories. I know that not everyone gets to have these experiences and understand what Christmas is truly for, and I wish that everyone will be able to receive the compassion and beauty of Christmas at some point in their lives.
Cassie Srock, News Editor
If you had asked eight-year-old Cassie what Christmas means to her, she would have said Christmas is all about Santa Claus and the presents he brings. Now that I am older the meaning of Christmas has changed. I know Santa Claus may not be real, but the Christmas spirit he represents is real.
I believe “Christmas time is the most wonderful time of the year” just like the song says. The traditions my family has are what mean the most to me. We always go see Christmas lights, decorate cookies for Santa on Christmas Eve, watch all the classic Christmas movies, take an annual picture with Santa, and open presents on Christmas morning with stockings following.
Traditions keep getting added to the list and they depend on where we are spending Christmas, but they are always what makes Christmas feel like Christmas. Along with traditions, there are presents, Christmas music, and family time. I care more about giving presents than receiving them now, but I will expect a present or two. Christmas music is just different. It sets the mood for all the Christmas festivities. That mood is string lights, cookies, presents, reindeer, candy canes, snow, elves, fudge, bows, and Santa all strung together.
Aside from everything Christmas, I would not trade the time I get to spend with my family for anything. So, if I only had my family during Christmas time, I would have everything I would ever need to make the time special.
Matthew Yokum, Sports Editor
My family’s Christmas get-together was Dec. 21, so I had bought my gifts weeks in advance in what I thought was plenty of time. I purchased a gift for each person in my family ordering most of them online and wasn’t worried about them getting here late. Of course, I underestimated Amazon and its rush of orders around Christmas.
When Saturday the 21st arrived, I had every gift except one, and that was for my mom. I got her a gardening tool because, when the weather is right, she loves to plant flowers. I knew my mom wouldn’t be heartbroken if it hadn’t arrived on time, but I had put much thought into the gift. It would be disappointing if she wasn’t able to open it along with everyone else.
Christmas must go on though, and everyone began unwrapping their gifts. I had found success with the presents I gave my siblings and dad, so it ended up being a good Christmas despite not being able to hand out all of my gifts.
Just as I was ready to show my mom a picture of what I ordered her along with apologizing for it not being delivered in time, a knock came from the front door. As I saw a figure walk away through the window, I opened the door to an Amazon van and a large package on my porch. I read my name on the box, and I knew exactly who the present was for. After this, I began to believe in Christmas magic.
When I say this box is large; I mean it. It was unnecessarily big for the tool I had gotten my mom, but that made it better for me as I didn’t have time to wrap it. As my mom opened the box to see what was inside, I knew that I had won the lottery. She immediately sees the tool and plans on using it once the weather improves.
Exchanging gifts with others is great, but the best part as I’ve gotten older is giving them away. My lesson in my story of this Christmas is simple; give every present on Christmas like you’re giving a present to your mom. If you do that, you’ll always give a gift with meaning and the person receiving it will remember the thoughtfulness.
Thomas Buchanan, Entertainment Editor
My family has a lot of Christmas traditions that are important to us. We celebrate it every year at my grandma and grandpa’s house, with decorations, a tree, classic Christmas movies, hot chocolate, cookies, and one of my favorites, going out and looking at lights.
However, while these things are essential every year, I thought about what Christmas means to me specifically, and what makes it different from other people I know.
Naturally, I thought of my grandparents. My grandma gets into the holiday more than anyone I know and has a special collection that stands out from the rest.
For the last 37 years, she has collected approximately 520 porcelain Christmas village houses and buildings. I say approximately because every time she has an accurate count, more are added to the bunch. Most of the Christmas village was gifted over time, but you’re more likely to find something already in the collection with the quantity and variety she has accumulated.
There is nearly every type of building imaginable, from coffee shops to airports, weather stations to ice skating rinks, ski slopes to planetariums, and colleges to casinos. Some standout features are an Oklahoma State University football stadium, Elvis Presley’s Graceland mansion, and a harbor of festive boats and ships on one side of the room.
Not only are there the buildings, but hundreds of figures, cars, scenes, and other complementary decorations. After almost four decades of collecting, there was enough to put together a miniature city. So that’s exactly what my grandparents did.
Most of the time that my grandma has been collecting, her favorite buildings in the village came out on every available surface in the house at Christmas time and were painstakingly packed away again for the next year. Now, they have a room at the back of their antique store set aside completely for its display and are still adding more pieces for their Christmas village.
The scale of the collection is truly amazing. Each time I come back; I still find something I had never noticed before. Since they set up their Christmas village, I have to go in every year, turn off the lights, and see all the houses lit up in the dark. It’s an experience linked inextricably to how I celebrate and remember Christmas.
Whitley Brown, Feature Editor
Christmas holds a special place in the hearts of many, and that is especially true for me. Growing up, and still today, I dearly look forward to the holiday. I love setting up my family’s Christmas tree every year.
One of my favorite parts of setting up our tree is opening the tote of ornaments and relieving all the wonderful memories that we have had throughout our lifetime. My mom collected ornaments that my brother and I made when we were in elementary school, and I love getting to see all of them again and hear all of my mom’s stories about them. The opportunity to decorate the tree alongside my mom and talk about our favorite memories is something that will always mean so much to me.
Christmas truly is wonderful to me. Even though I get to see my family regularly throughout the year, it means so much to get to experience the events and festivities of Christmas in our house together. I especially love having traditions, such as decorating our tree, that my family gets to do together.
Another event during Christmas that brings me so much joy is visiting with family that I do not get the chance to see very often. Every year, on Christmas Eve, my extended family gathers together at my grandma’s house and reflects on the past year and the year to come; sharing memories and stories of years past and admiring the blessing that it is to have one another. Christmas time is my favorite time of year because I get to spend time with those I hold so close to my heart.
Gary Jackson is a fourth-year communication major at the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma.
Cassie Srock is a second-year communication major at the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma.
Matthew Yokum is a third-year communication major at the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma.
Thomas Buchanan is a third-year art major at the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma.
Whitley Brown is a second-year communication major at the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma.
