There are many reasons why I love Christmas, and why this time of year is simply my most favorite time of the year. Christmas is the one time of year where everything is shining bright, happiness is filled throughout the streets, stores are filled with Christmas trees, and understanding the true magic of Christmas. When I was a little girl, I believed in Santa Claus and knew that this was quite essential for my childhood. Believing in Santa Claus for the years of my childhood brought so much happiness into my life because I was always looking forward to Christmas every year. My parents were so creative and put Santa Claus boots in the corridor and would eat the Christmas cookies and drink the glass of milk that I put out. They strengthened my beliefs in Santa Claus, and made me love Christmas even more. When I found out that Santa Claus wasn't real, I wasn't mad at my parents for lying, because Santa Claus is such an important fantasy figure in my life. Yes, I know that Santa Claus isn't real and never was when I was a child, but the strong beliefs that children have in this figure is a beautiful thing.

I love Christmas Eve so much because my family and I have our annual Christmas tradition where we watch classic Christmas movies, eat traditional Russian foods, and make Christmas cookies. I can't think of any other place I would spend on Christmas Eve than with my whole family at home. Even if I were to go celebrate somewhere else it wouldn't even feel like home or even like Christmas to me. We have special table coverings, plates, glasses, and cutlery that we use only once a year, and I wouldn't want to miss out on my mother's delicious cooking! We eat traditional Russian/Ukrainian Verenkis which are similar to dumplings and can contain anything from meat, potato, fruits, cheese, and salad filling. I really love eating Verenkis on Christmas Eve because it makes it so much more special. We all look forward to different types of Verenkis that will be on our table! We also make a mixed vegetable salad, and a Russian traditional soup called Borcht which is filled with beets. I love my culture's food so much and am very proud to be a Russian/Ukrainian American and never losing sense of where my parents are from.

The most important reason as to why I love Christmas is keeping Christ within Christmas. After being in religious classes all throughout my life, it made me love my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ so much. On this day, it isn't about getting shiny bright new things, or eating until your pants fall off, it's about keeping the Christ in Christmas. So many people forget about the whole point of Christmas, and I'm glad that I've discovered the true meaning of Christmas. Of course, when I was a young girl I wrote Christmas lists longer than I can even count, but now I keep it short and simple, and would much rather cuddle up with my family and watch corny Christmas movies and eat our favorite foods, and go to Midnight mass. I don't want to imagine how it would feel like to not even honor Jesus Christ on this beautiful and amazing day. I don't want to force anyone to believe in Jesus Christ, or to think that I am impeding my beliefs onto yours. I just am glad that I discovered the true meaning of Christmas, and there's no going back.

I want to wish everyone out there a very Merry Christmas with all of your loved ones and friends, and to those who don't celebrate Christmas, I wish everyone Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year!