We’ve lost our Christmas spirit

What I want for Christmas this year can’t be wrapped under the tree; I want Christmas to feel as special as it did when I was a kid. 

I remember racing my brothers and sister downstairs on Christmas morning to find the chaos Santa left in his wake — mince pie crumbs littering the floorboards, Mum, puffy-eyed with camera in hand, feigning surprise. I remember comparing presents with my sister and watching my brothers argue. It was magical.

But the older we get, the less special Christmas seems to feel. 

The pressure of exams — intensified by the condensed semester — the stress and expense of travelling home, and the lack of finances for Christmas gifts put a damper on the holiday season. You’re left wondering how you can get your brother a Mooseheads jersey and still pay for heating.

There’s only one explanation: we’ve lost our Christmas spirit, and we need to get it back.

For that to happen, we must first realize that the magic of Christmas never came from a fat man in a red suit. It manifested, instead, from the people around us and the traditions we create together throughout the season. 

There are endless opportunities to immerse ourselves in the holiday, even on a university student budget.

Nothing says Christmas more than a Christmas film, a cheap and easy way to get in the holiday spirit. Add hot chocolate, mince pies and a cozy fireplace — whether real or courtesy of YouTube — and your apartment might as well be the North Pole.

Whether you’re a fan of classic family films like Home Alone (1990) or How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000), or, like me, you believe Love Actually (2003) is the best Christmas film of all time, there is something for everyone. Netflix pumps out corny romcoms every holiday season that just might tickle your fancy. 

Equally, Christmas music also works wonders in evoking warm and fuzzy nostalgia and excitement. 

Mariah Carey has officially defrosted, so get listening!

Halifax has the holiday spirit

You’re also right where you need to be to join in the holiday cheer. With markets, tree lightings and light parades — you name it, Halifax has it. For a small city, it sure packs a lot of community Christmas spirit. 

As an exchange student who had never stepped foot in Canada before this semester, I’m excited to experience the holiday season through a different country’s lens. Compared to the large, overcrowded and overpriced events in my home city of London, U.K., Halifax’s Christmas activities provide a sense of community and family that often gets lost in the commercialized commotion of Christmas. 

I’ve already filled my calendar with Christmas craft markets for the weekends to come. 

Can I afford to buy every gorgeous ceramic I see? Absolutely not. Will that stop me from spending my morning sifting through stalls and admiring these handmade gifts? No chance. 

I see no reason why my lack of funds should stop me from supporting the local community and taking in the ambience created by the events; the smell of warm, mulled wine, Michael Bublé’s Christmas album blaring, oldies pondering present purchases — how much more Christmassy can it get?

The older you get, the more important it is to incorporate gezellig activities into your Christmas preparations.

Gezellig (pronounced heh-zell-ick) is a Dutch word that encompasses the feeling of general togetherness; enjoying one another’s company with a good atmosphere. 

Getting a cocktail with friends at the Stubborn Goat Gastropub whilst listening to their Christmas playlist can be described as gezellig, as can having a meal with friends and exchanging Secret Santa gifts, chatting with friends by the waterfront at the Evergreen Festival or DIYing Christmas decor with your roommates. 

Gezellig gets to the core of human connection and the joy that comes from spending time with others. Gezellig activities are essential for getting in the Christmas spirit. 

Now that I’m older, I’ve realized a lot of the magic of my childhood Christmases can be attributed to my parents, teachers, relatives and friends — for all of whom I am endlessly grateful. 

They are the ones who made Christmas so special.

Now, the duty of finding the Christmas spirit falls to us — if you want to feel Christmassy, it’s up to you to make it a priority. 

Christmas isn’t just a day, it’s a frame of mind. Get in that frame of mind as soon as possible. Christmas may never feel quite as magical as it did when we were kids, but that shouldn’t stop us from attempting to reignite the spark we’ve lost. 

Amidst the season of essays, exams, travel plans and empty bank accounts, Christmas spirit is the best thing to get us through.