CHRISTMAS, right up there with the Chinese New Year, has always been my favorite time of year. Perhaps it is because the decorations for this holiday have been put out two months in advance, but I have always felt especially happy and cheerful during this holiday season. Gone is my cynicism toward the world, and as cliched as it may sound, Christmas seems to bring out the good in everybody. It is said that Christmas and the holiday season always has been a time for children and youth. However, I still look forward to Dec. 25 with the same degree of excitement, and I think this is because of the strong attention that is paid to family.
Coming from an agnostic family that loosely believes in ancestral worship, I do not have the same religious connection to Christmas that many people have. To me, Christmas was always the celebration of family, and it was one of the few times of year that my aunt, uncle and cousin would visit. My parents also did not want me to miss out on the festivities, and they told me about Santa Claus so that I could celebrate Christmas for its spirit of giving and generosity. It was also a way to have me be good and clean up my messes - as if seven days of good will could make up for every bad deed during the year!
There always were presents under the tree and yearly trips to see Santa, and I distinctly remember the feeling of coming down the stairs and peeking around the corner to see the presents, and also of waking up at six in the morning to open them. The flashes of cameras, my Christmas carol cassette tapes, and the milk and cookies that were gone in the morning were all a part of the nostalgic and childlike glee that I experienced in my childhood. It indeed was a time when all of the troubles of my sheltered world seemed to wash away.
Now as an adult, slightly more jaded and a little bit colder from my experience in the world, I no longer feel that nostalgic innocence and joy when Christmas comes around. I no longer lose sleep at night waiting to hear Santa on our roof, nor do I rush to put up the tree or put up my stockings. Christmas for me has become just another day in some ways. However, I appreciate some things even more than I did when I was young.
I now can appreciate Christmas for the perfect idealism expected of everybody. Generosity and kindness toward fellow man especially is honored during these times, and even if some people do not follow this, it is the striving toward this goal that makes me feel so happy. In turn, I always try my best to be more cheerful and upbeat during the holiday season. Everyone does their part, and the whole idealistic view of the world, although far from being reality, seems to click for a faint instant in time. This, in itself, is the reason that I will always celebrate Christmas.
The one thing that always has stayed constant through the years when I celebrate Christmas is the family. I'll always love Christmas because of the opportunities I get to interact with my favorite cousin, my mother, father and sister. It always has been a time of togetherness at my house, and thankfulness for blessings always are on the tip of our tongues. Whenever I think of the kindness and generosity that is prevalent throughout this holiday season, I always think of my parents, who instilled these qualities in me. Whenever I think of empathy toward my fellow man, I always think of my sister, who has been my best friend and supporter through rocky times. And when I think of the innocence and idealism that pervades the holiday, I always think of my cousin, whom I watched grow up from infanthood. Everything good in me can be traced back to the family that I have had to lean on, and for that, I am eternally grateful.
So the next time you are running out to the store, or not taking the time to breathe and enjoy this holiday season, stop for an instant and don't worry about the deadline. Take in the sharpness of the air and the fuzzy feelings of warmth that are creeping through it. Instead of hanging out with friends this entire break, remember to set aside the majority of it for the family. Then, perhaps, Christmas can become more like any other day of the year, because with the love I get from people close to me, I wonder whether it's been Christmas all year long.
(Kevin James Wong is a Cavalier Daily columnist. He can be reached at kwong@cavalierdaily.com.)
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