As the holiday season approaches the air is filled with the smell of pine, stomachs are filled with cookies, and houses are filled with love… and presents. Flights are filled and so are houses with cheer. After talking with Pennridge teacher Mrs. Nace she joyfully explains why the mess and stress of this season is worth it to her.

Mrs. Nace, a mom to two boys, a wife to her husband and a daughter to her mother and father, gave me a look into her personal holiday season. I started off the interview by asking if she was typically stressed out when approaching Christmas time, she explained that now that her kids are older it’s gotten easier but despite the stress, the traditions, reunions and parties make it all worth it. Mrs. Nace mentioned her family participated in the typical Christmas traditions like polyanas, crafts and cooking as a family. Although in particular she mentioned Christmas cookies holding a special place in her heart. When she was younger, her mother, aunt, Nana and her, baked and decorated cookies from scratch the weekend before Christmas. She said that this tradition had died out over the years, but those memories will forever mean Christmas to her.

Culturally Ours tells us that just like now, Christmas in many cultures was a time of visiting friends and family. Although because it was cold outside and the ground was hard and frozen solid, farming was not an option then. So, cookies were made in bulk to share the spirit of the season with those who visited. Back then gifts consisted of sweets and handmade crafts like banners, now getting together to make cookies with family is a gift in itself.

When you’re young, and maybe even when you’re old, Christmas might only mean receiving, whether that’s food, presents or compliments from relatives. For many people this time of year consists of family traditions and memories that mean more than presents ever could. Mrs. Nace glowingly talks about her favorite part of Christmas being giving. “Finding the perfect gift that isn’t on their list is the most exciting thing… they always need it but never think to ask for it and seeing their face when they open it is my favorite part”. It’s refreshing to hear someone so excited about giving rather than receiving. In the materialistic world we live in, we can get caught up in our assets rather than the assets such as the people that make the holiday season as special as it is.

I think we can all agree by the end of the year we are ready for a fresh restart and a new page to begin writing the next chapter on. Christmas is the last hoorah of the year that is celebrated differently across the world. Although sometimes people’s differences make for a conflicted country, during the holiday season our differences make our traditions unique and keep the Christmas spirit alive