What Christmas Means to Me

“It’s the most wonderful time of the year.” What do you think of when you hear these words? 

I bet you instantly thought of Christmas: the holly, jolly holiday filled with angels and evergreens, sugar cookies and Nativity scenes, doorbells, sleigh bells, and schnitzel with noodles. Christmas is a single word with a million connotations! To some, it means decorations and colorful lights. To others, it means family, friends, and warm, cozy nights. And for some of us, Christmas isn’t quite as merry—perhaps it brings back memories of a loved one or relationship lost.  

When I think of Christmas, I think of tradition. And food.  

Now, I’m a fairly flexible person, so I’m not one to say, “Oh, we have to do x, y, and z every Christmas.” Over the years, I’ve noticed that it is not, in fact, easy to have the same exact traditions every year. But in general, three main traditions tie together my years of festive memories.   

First, let me acknowledge my soft spot for “commercial” Christmas. In my house, Black Friday has always been Christmas D-Day. The moment we all rolled out of bed, the entire house became a winter wonderland: Christmas trees sparkling, garlands glistening, and carols pumping through the house.  

The carols are another addition to the merriest time of year; music is at the heart of so much I do, and the holidays are no exception! Whether it’s warbling goofy songs like “Dominick the Donkey,” straining for the high note in Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” or reflecting on Christ’s birth through carols like “O Holy Night” and “Angels We Have Heard on High,” I’m here for it! And, of course, I can’t forget those cinematic Christmas classics—my family and I are huge nerds for films like “Home Alone,” “A Christmas Story,” and “Christmas Vacation.” If you hang around us throughout the year, you’re bound to hear the quirky quotes popping up in our daily interactions.  

Commercial Christmas is nice, but another tradition I hold dear is family—which is where the food comes in. It’s not that I’m entirely food-motivated (though my friends may insist that I am), good food is often at the center of my holiday festivities. My dad’s family cooks a mean Italian Christmas dinner—and I’m not talking a trip down the road to Olive Garden; I’m talking the annual walk through my aunt’s front door, laden down with pans of pasta, inhaling the aroma of homemade marinara sauce, sizzling Italian sausages, and delicate rolls.  

My mouth waters just thinking about it. 

But it’s not just the food I remember; it’s the memories that surround it. I’ll never forget the Christmas afternoons and evenings whiled away with the other older cousins, complaining about how full we were (and gorging on more goodies nonetheless).  

On my mom’s side, we have a different tradition. Every year—as far back as I can remember—I’ve gone to my nana’s house to make gingerbread houses. There’s nothing like walking into her kitchen and seeing the pristine houses waiting around the table for my cousins and me to decorate. Bowls of colorful candies, some of them long since gone stale, became rooftops, landscaping, and even gaudy wall décor. It might seem a simple tradition, but it’s been magical to see as even the younger cousins have joined the festivities and as our sugary houses have started looking less like crime scenes and more like Candyland. Whether it’s laughing over someone’s failed attempts to hot-glue peppermints onto a gingerbread roof or heaping cannolis and homemade apple pie onto my dinner plate, both sides of my family have contributed to traditions I hold so very dear. 

Lastly, what Christmas synopsis would be complete without the reason for the season? Raised in the church, I’ve always heard the Nativity story. Throughout the years, however, Christmas has come to mean more than just surface-level traditions; it’s become more and more about that beautiful Christmas tale. I mean, think about it: a teenage virgin confronted by a real-life angel and told she would give birth to the Savior of the universe? Only in the Bible can you find such a miraculous true story. Reflecting on the awestruck shepherds and majestic wise men who witnessed Jesus’ humble birth and looking forward to the miracles He would one day perform, I can’t help but believe in the mountain-moving, water-parting, prison-shaking God who planned it all from the start. 

That same God stands beside you this holiday season, rejoicing in your Christmas cheer and weeping alongside you as you mourn the loss of that loved one or treasured relationship. He created us as emotional beings for a reason—He wants us to be able to feel deeply. No matter what emotions confront you in the days to come, I hope you remember that the God who used beggars and thieves to forward His kingdom, the God who used a virgin girl to bring about the salvation of the world, can use your laughter and your tears alike for His glory. 

As you’re processing through this holiday, I pray that the season will bring you abundant joy as you both reflect on Christ’s birth and delight in community, enjoying good food, giving gifts, singing off-pitch to overplayed Christmas carols…and whatever Christmas means to you, I pray it will hold deep love, joy, and peace for you and your loved ones.  

Judging by the Christmas trees that went up in September and the Christmas music that was pumping on 100.3 the day after Halloween—I can tell it’s going to be a great one.