For so many of us, Christmas just isn't the same. While you still may love the smells and the colors and lights and everything that has always made Christmas as wonderful as it is, there's still a few things missing from our Childhood Christmas celebrations that you wish you can relive. Or maybe there's even some traditions that you're so happy are dead and gone. Either way, for myself included, while grateful for a time to celebrate my family, there are a few things missing that make the Holiday season just not the same as when we were little. So much so that we may even try to relive them...
1. The Christmas Card
This is definitely one you either loved or hated. Every year in early December or November, you and your siblings might have been forced to pose in an awkward place, maybe with a christmas sweater, and someone always messed up what would have been a good picture, and what would have gotten it over with in half the time. If you're anything like my family J.C Penny's portrait center might have even given you a permanent ban of ever being able to come back and take another silly, family, Christmas photo. This is one tradition I am actually glad my family has out grown...If you still take them, I hope they run a little bit smoother than they used to.
2. Christmas Music
Maybe I'm the only one that feels like this but Christmas music just isn't what it used to be. As much as I love Justin Bieber, I recommend staying away from his Christmas album and sticking to the old Mariah Carey classic that will just ever get old. I don't know how old I felt when the "Little Drummer Boy" started to be rapped by "Busta Rhymes" but I personally will stick to the classics. Nothing will ever feel the same whether it's the Frank Sinatra classics or Mariah Carey's "All I Want for Christmas is You."
3. Christmas Movies
This brings me to the movies...somewhere down the line Harry Potter and Toy Story became considered Christmas movies and take up a whole weekend of ABC Family's 25 Days of Christmas Lineup, but I am not cool with it. "The Santa Clause" movie featuring Tim Allen only gave me the feels during the first movie which was featured 1994 and I don't know if you've seen some of the newer "Home Alone" movies (Holiday Heist) but if not I would recommend not risking ruining anything that included a young Macaulay Culkin. Thankfully, all the old favorites are still included in line up and on T.V about 50 times each in December.
4. The Kids Table
If you have a big family there's just never going to be room for you at the main table no matter how old you get. You'll never grow out of eating at the kitchen table that you always eat at instead of the glorious dining room table filled with all of the entirety of the colorful meal. While after 21 years you can be completely used to it and it may not be exactly a kids table anymore considering all of your cousins are in their twenties and thirties as well, there still is some minor setback when I get a festive Christmas paper plate to eat on instead of the real Christmas china. However back in the day, we didn't even mind because we all sat for about 5 to 10 minutes to scarf down our food before we had to get back to whatever new Mario game someone got for the Game Cube that day.
5. The Presents
That get's me to what some might miss the most, the presents. Not that I'm grateful for all the clothes and such that I get today but there was nothing like walking down the stairs to seeing a pile of colorful packaging hoping that it will match your list you sent to Santa. Not to mention, toys and games in the 90's and early 2000's will never be able to compare to anything kids are getting today. I don't think there's been a happier Christmas since the one I got a Gameboy Color and a Razor scooter.
6. Believing in Magic
This might sound so corny but I wonder if the movies, the songs, the presents just all became not as fun as soon as you discovered the truth. There's so much innocence in a child during Christmas time and as soon as you realize it isn't what you thought it was you feel like it was all a lie! However, there's still a reason why we enjoy the old movies and songs and still love getting together with family even if it is because it reminds us of a simpler time.
