Here I am, a week after Halloween, writing an article about Christmas. Given that I am currently in college, the closer we get to it equals my early Christmas presents: exams. Joy. I am not looking forward to them, to be honest, but I am looking forward to ending the semester on a great note because Christmas is right around the corner.

I believe that people like to start on Christmas early because of the way it makes you feel. Christmas isn't all about the presents or the decorations, it's about togetherness and love. To me, Christmas represents all sorts of love and gratefulness. I love decorating the tree with my family and listening to Christmas music in the car with my Mom on the way to the store or home. I love exchanging gifts with my friends and my boyfriend and watching their faces as they open them. To me, the best gift of the season is giving, not receiving.

Christmas is watching all of the old movies and decorating cookies and making the house smell like it, literally. I love the towns and the houses around this time of year, it makes everything feel like home. Being so far away from home right now is the hardest thing ever because all I want to be doing is putting up the Christmas tree and spending time with my family. Everyone is saying it's too early for Christmas, but is it really? If you think about it, Christmas isn't really all that far away. To all of the people hating on the fact that people are celebrating the holidays in their own way right at this very moment, keep your opinions to yourself. Christmas isn't all about the decorations, it's about different things for different people.

I have currently been listening to Christmas music since Halloween night and a bunch of the girls in the dorm hall have already decorated their doors. The cheer and amazingness of Christmas are filling every inch of Wesleyan itself. We all have to look towards something positive due to the fact that we're all drowning in school work (I have an essay that is due tomorrow that is still not done at this very moment, oops).

I cherish the idea of Christmas because it reminds me of happy times and family. I can't remember a time when my Mom and I haven't decorated the whole entire house in snowmen and Santa Clause. I can't wait to go home to the Christmas tree and the smell of pine in every nook and corner of the house. I can't wait to see the twinkling of the lights or the glinting of the ornaments against them. Christmas represents so much for me and my family, what does it do for you?