I love the holidays. I love everything about them—the food, seeing family, giving (and receiving) presents. That being said, there is something I loathe about Christmastime, and that is that everything disappears at midnight on the 25th. The radio stations stop with the music, the decorations outside of homes disappear and the joy of the holidays almost seems to come to a screeching halt.

Why?

Why do we, as a society, only celebrate Christmas up until the 25th, and not a day longer? I know that in my family, the tree stays up for a few weeks after Christmas and we still are celebrating after our actual Christmas festivities. It makes me so sad to see trees out on the curb so early. For kids like me, who are still in school, we don’t get to enjoy the holidays during finals. All we get is the few days before Christmas. This goes for almost everyone who has to work right up until even Christmas, or even on the 24th or 25th. God bless those of you who have to work instead of spend time with loved ones.

This holiday season, I’m encouraging you to extend your celebration. Don’t tear down the decorations you worked so hard to put up. Spread joy. Eat all the Christmas cookies until they’re gone. Sit around, look at your tree, and ask yourself what it means to you. No matter what you do, revel in the holidays. They only come around once a year. Make them special, whatever that means to you. And please, don’t be like some retailers, who already have Valentine’s Day decorations out.