Christmas. That word can bring so much to mind, some things good and some things not so much. The word carries with it a whiff of smoke coming from the fireplace, the aroma of freshly baked sugar cookies, the perfume of the evergreen Christmas tree, and the smell of crisp, falling snow. Memories of snowball fights, twinkling lights, colorful wrapping paper, musical concerts, and family gatherings come to life. Yet so do the stressors of final exams, work deadlines, Christmas shopping, music practices, and tense family relations. But what is Christmas really about? What is the meaning of Christmas?
To answer this, I interviewed a few Andrews students about their opinions on the true meaning of Christmas.
What is the meaning of Christmas?
“The real meaning of Christmas is that it is a time when the family gathers to celebrate the life of our Savior.” - Sam Martin (sophomore, Biochemistry)
“For me, Christmas is a lot about the traditions you have with your family. My family always goes on the second weekend after Thanksgiving to get our Christmas tree. We do other special things every year around Christmas, such as having crepes for Christmas Day breakfast. It is about those things you do with your family, year after year.” - Scott Frain (freshman, agricultural business)
“The meaning of Christmas, the way my family celebrates it, it is just an excuse to get together.” - Sara Santana (senior, psychology)
“Not much. My family has not celebrated Christmas since I was in 4th grade. I believe that we can appreciate Jesus’s birth any day of the year.”- Anonymous.
“I think it’s evolved for me. Obviously, it is about considering the birth of Jesus. But as a kid, it was more about getting, but now, as an adult, it is more about giving. It is the season of giving.” - Moriah Duncan (graduate, social work)
“Christmas to me is about celebrating Christ's birth and spending time with friends and family! It's also about taking the time to spread joy and cheer to everyone around us.” - Bianca Loss (junior, elementary education)
For some, Christmas is about family traditions. For others, it is simply an excuse to get together and have a great time. So, while the lights, food, music, snow, and other Christmasy things are essential, it seemed that the most common thread throughout all these reflections was people. Specifically those people that make our holidays so wonderful.
So Christmas, for many people, is directly tied to family. Most of our holiday memories consist not so much of the gifts we got, the food we ate, or the movies we watched but of the people who gave us those gifts, the family we made cookies with, and the friends with whom we watched those funny movies. In the end, Christmas is not only about the birth of Christ, which is very important but also about those who make that holiday special. Let us remember and appreciate those people who make our lives special, not just on Christmas but every day of the year!
The Student Movement is the official student newspaper of Andrews University. Opinions expressed in the Student Movement are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors, Andrews University or the Seventh-day Adventist church.