Every year, teens get that warm winter feeling from Christmas lights, holiday music, decorations and quality time with people they care about. Lately, those warm feelings have been dying out. Are we losing holiday spirit, or just getting older? 

 Many high schoolers say the holidays don’t feel the same. The excitement we had as kids doesn’t hit the same way. When you’re busy or tired all the time, it’s harder to feel enthusiastic about anything, even things you used to love. Think back to when you were younger. The holidays probably felt magical because you didn’t have to worry about anything. No exams. No jobs. No responsibilities. Everything was about fun: making cookies, decorating the tree, watching holiday movies, or opening presents. 

  “I feel like as I’ve gotten older, I’ve started to lose some of the beliefs I had when I was younger. I’m beginning to understand what’s real and what’s not, and that can make my holiday spirit fade. As teenagers, we know Santa isn’t real, so things like that can dim the magic a little,” stated senior Ava Davis. 

Another concept we can look at is the world itself. After living through a pandemic, the holidays have become complicated. Families can’t gather the same way. “During Covid, I couldn’t see my family even though they lived only 30 minutes away. Everyone was scared of getting sick, so the holidays felt lonely. Now, even though we all get together again, something still feels different. It’s like things went back to normal, but not really, and I can’t tell what’s missing,” commented freshman Skylar Rodriguez.  People got used to staying home or keeping celebrations small. Even things supposedly ended in 2023, we’re still trying to return to normal, and things have changed in ways we can’t undo or understand.  

On top of that, we live in a world with constant stress, news, and the pressure of social media. Social media can make a lot of teenagers feel like their holiday spirit is fading. As they scroll, they see perfect pictures of decorations, elaborate family gatherings, and people looking like they’re having the “best holiday ever.” This can make teens compare their own celebrations and feel like theirs aren’t good enough. Instead of enjoying the season, people end up stressing about how things look instead of how they feel. Social media can take away some of the genuine joy and excitement that makes the holidays special. 

Holidays can be stressful or lonely for those who don’t have special traditions, positive family situations, or memorable experiences, like visiting Santa at the mall. What makes one person joyful makes another overwhelmed. So maybe the real question isn’t “are we losing holiday spirit?” but “what does the holiday spirit mean to us?” For many of us, the definition changes as we get older, yet that’s not always a bad thing. 

Holiday spirit isn’t always about being excited or having a magical feeling. It might be watching your favorite movie, listening to holiday music while doing homework, drinking hot chocolate with friends, or giving someone a gift that makes them smile. 

We’re not losing our holiday spirit. We’re changing, the world is changing, and our relationship with the holidays is changing too. Change isn’t something unfavorable; it’s a different feeling that comes with getting older.  

This year, instead of wondering where the holiday spirit went, maybe we should ask ourselves what brings us joy now, and how we can create our own meaning in the season. The spirit might still be there; we just have to look for it in new places.