By: Meagan So, Staff Writer
The once magical Christmas spirit we had growing up eventually fades away, with stories of flying reindeer and mischievous elves becoming a thing of the past, a faded memory, and the idea of Santa Claus is given up on as he is deemed non-existent and a myth. When did this happen? Looking back to when we were little children in elementary school, naive and believing in magic, can hit some with a wave of sadness and nostalgia. Yet, it seems like it was just yesterday we were hurrying to bed and waking up the next morning with stockings full and cookies set out the night before reduced to crumbs. So, when did it all change, and when did the magic die?
In my opinion, many things contribute to losing belief and faith in magic, but I think a big piece is growing up. One of the main factors is maturity. As kids, we were naive and gullible, and we believed in a lot of things that we now know are not possible. There was an innocence that we carried, which made us fascinated by the decorative lights, colors, and presents on Christmas that were “magical”. However, when we grew up, we were exposed to things and started to look at the world more logically.
To others, the news was broken to them by peers, parents, siblings, and more, aka exposure to new information. Many, including my younger self, can remember the moment clearly as it changed the way a lot of things were viewed. Sadly, it was bound to happen at some point. A thing that prompted the end of Christmas magic for me personally was asking curious questions. A big part of growing up is questioning things, which is something I did a lot. After asking too far based on a hunch and lack of belief among my friends, I eventually discovered the truth. It was heartbreaking, of course, but the facts were always there; it just never surfaced, and I never believed it until I had confirmation. Maya Dolmage-Heath (9) shared some of her experiences similar to this, saying, “I think I was around 6th grade when I finally accepted Santa wasn’t real, but it was also because it was then my parents admitted they were the ones who got me the presents. ‘Santa’ wasn’t really brought up anymore.”
However, the ending of this Christmas “magic” doesn’t have to be a devastating thing, and the festivities definitely don’t need to end. In my opinion, it can also be seen as another opportunity. People with younger siblings, cousins, and more, the Christmas “magic” can now be passed on for them to experience the amazing Christmas days you once did during childhood. Now, there can be a new type of magic on Christmas, the magic of love and care when spending time with family and friends, because the magic of Christmas isn’t in Santa, reindeer, elves, and magic gifts; it’s in your hearts.
