When we were younger, we counted down the days until Santa arrived. There were milk and cookies placed by the fire, and carrots thrown into the yard for the reindeer, and jingle bells hung on the door. We would crawl into bed, way too excited to sleep, but if we didn't, then Santa won’t come. By morning, we would see the presents under the tree – the presents that Santa brought down a chimney and organized so nicely. The milk and cookies were gone, and the carrots were nibbled on. The look in our youthful eyes was so much different than the look we have now. What happened that caused the magic to fade?

As we get older, the magic of Christmas seems to disappear. It fades into how much money we have to spend on gifts and how much debt we are willing to sacrifice just to give a gift. Christmas (and every holiday) is a time to cherish what we have, and rejoice in the celebration together.

Here are four ways to put the magic back into Christmas:

1. Believing in Santa.

We all know by now that Santa is an imaginary fat man in a red suit that likes cookies and brings gifts, but what if we were to believe in him again? Not in a way that we did when we were a child, but in a way that Santa can help bring back some magic about innocence, imagination, and hope.

Santa is an iconic symbol all over the world for this time of the year. Figurines, pictures, statues, lights, and loads of decorations are illustrated about this jolly man. Why do people buy these things if he isn’t real? Is it for the kids? Or is it the fact that Santa is something so magical and iconic about Christmas that we shouldn't let go? Don’t let that magic of Santa escape you during this time.

2. Mistletoe

There is something special about kissing a significant other underneath the mistletoe. Maybe it’s the way people look at it and want to feel loved, or stand underneath as a joke. But nevertheless, mistletoe brings joy. When a person is accidentally standing underneath it and he or she blushes, that’s putting some magic back into the holidays.

Kissing is fun, cute, romantic, and can leave an immense feeling of happiness, but having a designated spot that is cheesy and cute to kiss can make it even more special since it only happens one month out of the year. So this year, kiss a lot and enjoy the power of the little greenery that hangs above your head.

3. Decorative Lights

Decorating and hanging up lights is one of the best ways to share the holiday season with other people because lights can let you express yourself during the season. During the month of December, people’s electric bills skyrocket due to decorations. Many wonder why people display lights as a way to celebrate a holiday and also wonder when it became such a social norm to decorate for the holidays?

According to the article "Why Do We Decorate for Christmas and Other Christmas Customs Explained," Thomas Edison’s’ business partner, Edward Johnson, strung some lights and hung them in his window. People in the town loved it so much that they would walk by at night just to see his display. From then on, hanging lights became popular and festive. This social norm simply started from a man and a light. Therefore, go enjoy and relish in the fact that history is all around us. Every house that is decorated is a symbol of how St. Nicholas is still around today.

4. Sit and Relax.

Too much of the time we get caught up in sales, lack of time, wrapping presents, and sitting on the computer searching for perfect gifts. But what if you took just fifteen minutes out of your day to sit and relax worry-free. If you have a Christmas tree or a fireplace with stockings, sit next to it with a cup of cider and enjoy the view. Look at the way in which the tree stands tall without any gifts placed under it, or how the stockings hang empty.

Christmas is an inevitable holiday, but it is only for one day. Afterwards, everything is taken down, people return gifts, and the same old mundane routine of life sets back in. So while you have the opportunity, embrace this moment – a moment that only occurs once a year. Remember what Christmas is truly about, and rejoice in the ambiance of love, sweets, and the people who make you smile. Holidays are about celebration. Celebrate life, celebrate health, celebrate what you have – not what you don’t have – and cherish each moment. These moments only come once a year, so make the best of it and add a little bit more magic back into the spirit of Christmas.