Christmas Time

Written yesterday, while sitting on a stranger's couch amid boisterous laughter and the smell of roasted chicken. ~

Lately, I've felt very disjointed from the "outside" society. ~ What with Organic Chemistry, Historical Inquiries and A Doll's House occupying my mind, the holiday festivities have seemed like a distant dream. ~ When school snares you and keeps you entrapped in her hold, it's hard to get caught up in the holiday experience. ~

So that has gotten me thinking... What is it that really defines the festive quality of the holiday season? ~ Is it the snow-covered, pure-white, snowy winter landscape? ~ The glittery, red-and-green-coloured Christmas decorations strewn on every coverable surface? ~ The candy-cane-loaded, garland-encircled, lit-up Christmas tree? ~ Or should we consider things like the joy of giving and receiving gifts, or of donating money to charity, or of spending time with family and friends? ~

Well, as I sit here on this foreign couch, a brief epiphany relating to this topic strikes me. ~ What really creates and maintains that holiday season feeling is that everyone participates. ~ The shopping malls are all fully-packed with busy, last-minute shoppers struggling to check off everyone on their lists. ~ Bands, choirs and symphonies perform Christmas carols non-stop. ~ Radios food drives are in full-swing, amassing hundreds of thousands of dollars to support those who are less fortunate this cold wintery season. ~ On the last day of classes or of work, everyone says goodbye with a smile and a hug, wishing each other a "Merry Christmas!" and a "Happy New Year!" ~
And admittedly, there will always be that one grumpy Scrooge, complaining about the festivities and good food (Heaven knows why!). ~ But what's most noticeable about even this situation is that they too, are a part of the Christmas experience. ~ Ironically,as a cornerstone of celebrating the holidays, the Scrooges of our world are essential to completing the holiday posse. ~ I'm sure they would be mortified if they thought about it this way, though. ~

So all in all, cliché as though it may seem, it's the humans that make Christmas what it is today. ~ We have constructed a time when everything else is put on hold, where even the busy IB children are caught up in celebrations. ~ And indeed, as my parents enjoy a glass of wine or two, I sit here (not drinking - I'm the designated driver, it seems) and pull out my phone, ready to call a friend and begin my own Christmas experience. ~