#5: Why Aren't People Happier During the Holidays?
                 

                  Imagine a succulent chicken slowly glazing in an oven, cups of rich hot cocoa brewing one after the other, the sweet, velvety aroma enveloping your senses, vibrant lights of every color dotting the ceiling, flashing to an almost rhythmic beat, and a warm fire flickering in the living room. This is Christmas--or should I say the expectation of Christmas. Many studies have shown that numerous individuals aren't feeling too happy as the holidays creep around. The question is where this unhappiness gets its roots from. Throughout history, Christmas has become regarded as the climax of the year for many Americans. The idea of celebrating with your loved ones--conjuring up holiday recipes, wrapping a myriad of gifts, rolling around in the snow, cuddling by the fire with frosted hands, opening piles upon piles of presents--has been emphasized through the decades and has been the source of such long-awaited excitement.  However, it is this extravagant expectation of such an occasion that causes a let-down when the reality of it does not coincide.

                Our society has become so engulfed in the notion of creating "Christmas magic" that we tend to set unrealistic expectations for ourselves. We have this perfect picture in our minds about the events to take place on Christmas day, but we fail to acknowledge all the road blocks that may refrain us from obtaining such a picturesque occasion. With such a high expectation of a perfect Christmas, individuals are saddened when daily strives--car breaks down, food supply is low, children are fighting, a drunk relative crashes the festivities, cookies get burnt-- catch up with holiday fantasy. We as a society focus too much on the high points of the holidays--the gifts and the fun. Consequently, we fail to consider the little things that make the holidays what they are. A holiday, by definition, is a time of celebration when no work is done. Thereby, the true happiness of the holidays should lie in the fact that we get to relieve ourselves from the stress of work or school. It should not be centered on the idea of a picture-perfect celebration filled with all kinds of luxurious foods and gifts. The idea of Santa Clause, for instance, only furthers the belief that Christmas centers around material matter. Ask any child what pops up into their mind when the word Christmas is mentioned. Christmas? Santa Clause.  There is absolutely no cultural, religious, or social significance of Santa Clause other than the fact that he is just an old man who supplies children with presents. Santa neither promotes nor demonstrates any other aspect of Christmas, such as the value of family or the importance of sharing. The creation of this Santa character only fosters a false notion that reinforces the idea that the joy of Christmas comes from the receiving of gifts. So, when children don't receive the presents they wish for, should Santa Clause fail to supply them with their every desire, these young kids are unsatisfied and, in a way, their Christmas is ruined. Furthermore, the media does an exceptional job in reinforcing the very idea of a material-based Christmas, marking the start of Christmas morning by depicting  children storming downstairs with the greatest fury, making a bee-line straight to the Christmas tree, ripping open presents viciously, tossing wrapping paper carelessly up and down. The fact of the matter is that Christmas is supposed to be a time of remembrance to mark the birth of Jesus Christ, and many people have seemed to forgotten this. Christmas is a time to free ourselves of daily aggravations. Christmas is a time to be thankful for everything we have, no matter how trifle they may seem. Christmas is a time to be selfless and giving. Christmas is a time to be truly happy.

                The best way to ensure maximum happiness around the holidays is to severely downplay our expectations of this occasion, because, when reality confronts fantasy, nothing seems to satisfy the individual. Therefore, by "simplifying the menu,  we don't have to worry about daily strives creating a blockade of trouble. And who knows? We just might obtain the most evasive of all holiday gifts: Christmas magic.

Work Cited

Graff, Vincent. "Why Holidays Aren't as Good for You as You Think." Mail Online. N.p., 7 Sept. 2010. Web. 24 Feb. 2013. <http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1309624/Why-holidays-arent-good-you-think.html>.

Lyubomirsky, Sonja. "Fantasy Vs. Reality." The New York Times. N.p., 23 Dec. 2012. Web. 24 Feb. 2013. <http://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2012/12/23/why-arent-people-happier-during-the-holidays/the-fantasy-vs-the-reality-of-the-holidays>.

Ramsey, Estere. "Holiday Aren't Always Happy and Joyful -- Depression Can Be a Real Stickler." Yahoo! Contributor Network. N.p., 24 Dec. 2012. Web. 24 Feb. 2013. <http://voices.yahoo.com/holiday-arent-always-happy-joyful-depression-can-11894304.html>.