It is not a huge secret that Christmas is my favorite holiday of the year. I love it for the multitude of joyful and triumphant traditions that bring out the best in people everywhere. In fact, I am the type of person that wouldn't mind spreading holiday cheer throughout January. After all, we're supposed to keep the Christmas spirit alive in our hearts all year long!
Since I tended to be a rather silly child, family members like my mother love to reminisce on the crazy things I've done. During the Christmas season in my toddler years, Momma says that I started crying when she started to take down the Christmas tree. As her legend has it, my little self screamed, "NO, CHRISTMAS IS NOT OVER!" According to her, that's when she decided to get me a little mini Christmas tree of my own, so episodes like that would not happen again.
What can I say? The idea of taking down the Christmas tree when the holiday season is supposedly 'over' is as depressing as it is joyous when the time comes to put up the Christmas tree each year. I don't see why Christmas must be concealed into the month of December anyway. Now, the true meaning of Christmas has been debated time and time again. However, at the heart of it, this holiday just wants to spread joy and love to the world. Isn't that what people should do all year long anyway?
Even though the Christmas sweaters and presents are only concealed within the holiday season for me, the idea of goodness being brought by all people into the world is not. Bringing joy to others is a heartwarming feeling, but it's more than giving presents. It's telling a stranger hello when they seem like they're having an off day. It's letting your loved ones know they are loved in times of doubt. The Christmas spirit is being kind to the world, even when you question whether or not it is being kind to you.
I choose to keep Christmas alive in my heart 24/7 because it truly is the most wonderful time of year. There's some magical element about it that unites all people together and reminds them of both material and heartfelt substances whether or not they come in silver or gold. At the end of the day, Christmas is far too wonderful to be a Grinch and restrain to one part of the year, and you can't change my mind.