By Melody Ortiz
As years go by, more and more people are rising up against Christmas.
When someone says this holiday is their favorite, they’re met by faces of disgust and a long lecture on why this is no longer the most wonderful time of the year.
The main reason people give as to why Christmas now sucks is that it’s a stressful, money-driven holiday.
They forget, however, that it doesn’t have to be. No matter what the holiday is, it all comes down to how it is celebrated.
If someone gets stressed over the holiday, then they aren’t celebrating it right.
Gifts do not have to be a part of it.
Believe it or not, you don’t even have to spend it with your family, especially, if you don’t come from a very loving one.
For most of us who are crazy about Christmas, it’s because we celebrate it right.
We celebrate it with the people we love and who love us.
The people who understand that we won’t always have money on us to spend.
The people who just enjoy being with us.
A lot of us aren’t even religious. Our version of the holiday includes love, magic and miracles.
It’s a season where people find themselves being more kind, sometimes without realizing it.
It’s a time for cheesy, heartfelt movies and decorating trees, gingerbread houses and stockings.
I think most of us can agree that Black Friday is a horrible event.
It’s a bit hypocritical, however, to hate it while still taking part of the frenzy.
This event may be the first thing that comes to some minds when they think of Christmas, and it shouldn’t be.
Hopefully one day, enough people will realize that gifts aren’t as important as big stores make them out to be and get rid of it.
No, Michael Kors, I don’t need to get that bag to show my mom I love her. She’s already excited for the two weeks I’ll be visiting her.
Sorry, Target, but I’m not going to buy that $40 Hatchable.
I could literally draw Peppa Pig and my niece would go insane for it.
Oh, Apple, the watch my dad has is fine, and I know his favorite beer, so I got him covered.
Christmas is only as good as you make it.
If it’s crappy, that’s because you chose for it to be.
Even in the worst situations, like if you are dealing with the loss of a loved one, are you going to wish for one more gift from them on Christmas or one more day with them?
You can choose to mope or you can choose to honor them and keep them with you in spirit.
As for the music, it’s understandable that it does get tiring if played too early.
The thing is, if it doesn’t kill me to change the station playing Cardi B or Taylor Swift, which is played all year long as opposed to a month or two, it probably won’t kill you to turn a switch for Bing Crosby.
I know what you’re thinking, “Well, I don’t have control of the station all the time.”
Yeah. Me neither.
Your argument is invalid.
So in the spirit of Christmas, here’s some advice for those who absolutely can’t go the holiday without getting gifts.
For those who are taking an artistic classes such as photography, art or ceramics, use one or some of your class projects as gifts.
If you can knit, sew or crochet then go for the simple gloves, beanie or scarf gift.
Gifts were meant for the kids in the first place.
No one realizes it, but toddlers really just want to tear up the gift wrap.
They’re fine with most things from a dollar store. or even hand-me-down toys that just need a little spruce.
As an adult, gifts are appreciated but not necessary.
As long as there is some good food, loved ones and maybe a little alcohol, Christmas is set.
Everyone is good at something and shouldn’t limit themselves to how much money they have.
If a grown adult is upset at the gift they got or didn’t get, that is their problem.
It’s not anyone’s responsibility to get them something, especially if they are going to have to choose between school supplies, paying rent, paying for gas, a plane ticket or buying ten $30 gifts.
Someone like this, is not doing Christmas right.
You’d think that all those Christmas movies about finding the “true meaning of Christmas” would have sunk into everyone’s head by now.