Christmas music is outlawed in my house from Dec. 26 to Nov. 28. At least, according to my mom.
For most of my childhood, I followed her rules to the T. The “T” is Thanksgiving, which she believes is the best holiday and doesn’t deserve to be interrupted by Christmas extravaganza.
While my holiday spirit has always been confined to December, I’ve noticed many students’ reluctance to celebrate the holidays at all, not due to personal preference or cultural reasons, but because they believe they’re too old to do so. As we mature, our definition of what’s cool or appropriate for our age evolves. It’s not surprising that what we like changes over time, but a problem arises when we deem our favorite celebrations “cheesy” or “childish” simply because that’s what we think people our age believe.
It’s now considered weird to go trick-or-treating, a waste of time to watch holiday cartoons and ugly sweaters have been replaced with Instagram-worthy ones. Students often complain that the holidays don’t feel the same as they did when they were kids. Considering the limited ways we allow ourselves to celebrate, I’d argue much of this sentiment is a result of our own choices.
Just like how I resist listening to my favorite holiday tunes outside of December, students resist doing what makes them happy in order to align with a teenage norm. We certainly haven’t lost the desire to feel childlike joy yet are unwilling to do things that make us feel that way out of fear of looking “uncool.”
One of the best examples of self-sabotaging happiness comes from a Christmas expert: the Grinch. After Cindy Lou Who, a neighborhood girl, invites the Grinch to her Christmas dinner, he announces, “I have spent my entire life hating Christmas and everything about it. But now I see that it wasn’t Christmas I hated, it was being alone.” After enduring a painful childhood, the Grinch had squashed all forms of holiday cheer. But being around kind people was what made him truly happy, not trying to protect himself from future pain. We can do the same by embracing what makes us joyful, not what we think will shield us from judgment. Even for students who truly don’t want to celebrate the holidays, it’s important to engage in activities we actually enjoy regardless. The key to a happy life is prioritizing what fulfills us, not what will make us popular amongst others.
You’re never too old to celebrate the way you want to. I’d rather be seen as childish than look back at Christmases regretfully like the Grinch did. That’s why I’ve decided to break my mom’s rules this year and listen to the songs that make me happy, even after Dec. 26. But if I still want presents next year, I better use headphones.