Campus Views: Students sound off on holiday chaos
With the Thanksgiving leftovers finally starting to fade from our fridges, we can all heave a sigh of relief for making it through the first round of the holiday season with only minor bumps and bruises.
Hopefully this year’s lulls in conversation were only the result of overly full stomachs, and the mashed potato mishaps were overlooked in light of enjoying the gravy.
Now we are in for round two of the holiday season — Christmas. As we all know, tis not always the season for sleigh bells and winter wonderlands (although Whitefish is a snowglobe). From Christmas music starting in October to decorating skirmishes on the home front, this time of year is notorious for bringing out the Grinch even in the most Cindy Lou Who of suspects.
If we could take a minute to turn down Bing Crosby and call a cease fire on our bedecking battles, what lies at the heart of the holiday experience?
Here’s what students from Whitefish High have to say about the matter:
“It’s the time when all of our parents can finally splurge and go back on their words of 'you’re already spoiled enough, you can’t have that.' It’s suddenly OK to bombard us kids with materialistic things, because it’s the holidays.”
“Eighteen years later we are still on the hunt for my mom’s definition of the perfect tree. I wonder what that will look like.”
“The holiday season has a ton of anticipation and when you finally get to it (mainly Christmas) the second my family is done giving/receiving presents the holiday buzz is completely over and we end up watching TV or cleaning.”
“The quaintness of Whitefish adds to the coziness that most people expect during this time of the year. What I like to do during the holiday season is take a step back from the festivities, shopping, and all the holiday traffic and just be in a single moment, one that I wish would last forever and love every second of it with the people I care about. Otherwise what is all this celebration for?”
“I like presents, everybody does, but I wish I didn’t. I wish that we could get away from presents and just go hug our grandmas.”
“My dad insists every year that he alone hangs the ornaments one by one, ensuring absolute precision. It’s real festive.”
“I would like to make it illegal to play Christmas music and have decorations in stores until Halloween is over.”
The students have spoken, what we need most is a break from the desire to possess the Christmas spirit. We need respite from the Christmas chaos in the form of sincere compassion and quality time.
So in the spirit of the holiday season, many students are choosing this season to volunteer at their churches, donate their gifts to those in need and offer support and genuine love to the community.
‘Tis the season to cherish in this winter wonderland indeed.
— Grace Kurtz is a senior at Whitefish High School.