Every year, when December rolls around, children and adults alike see Christmas trees go up, lights being hung from every ledge and holiday traditions begin. These traditions, most of them starting at a young age, are staples when it comes to Christmas. For many kids, this includes running down the hallway before the sun comes up, ripping open gifts and piling up wrapping paper. However, as these kids grow up, these key traditions start to look a little different.
As kids grow into teens and then adults, the small holiday practices that are carried from year to year as a young kid change. Some of this sprouts from growing up, while some comes from simply living in a different era now. Back in the day, many children would circle what they wanted in catalogs and magazines. Target, Walmart, Best Buy, Toys-R-Us and many others would send catalogs in the mail featuring their new toys for the year. These catalogs, a black Sharpie and a piece of paper used to be the go-to method for making lists. Now in our current time, apps like Giftful exist, allowing kids to create their own Christmas wishlist with the touch of a button. Another reason for the decline in traditional wishlist making could also be related to the idea of giving gifts as you get older. As a child, the idea of receiving gifts is something that every kid looks forward to. Yet over the years as kids mature, giving gifts to younger siblings or older family members becomes more enjoyable for many.
From a young age, holiday festivities like wrapping presents, opening advent calendars and building gingerbread houses are things that kids look forward to all year. Every little part of the Christmas season seems significant. For many, these traditions spark memories of childhood Christmas, yet as people grow older, those same traditions often begin to quietly fade away. Growing out of Christmas traditions is something that is almost universal, although it may look different for everyone.
Christmas is arguably one of the most anticipated holidays of the year. It comes with an entire season of anticipation. Children spend months counting the days until Christmas, and then, when December rolls around, that count becomes days. People start decorating the house, playing festive songs and preparing for Christmas. Even the small details, like hanging ornaments or writing a wish list, feel like a key part of what makes the season magical. That sense of excitement is the center of early memories and becomes part of how kids imagine Christmas.
However, as the years go by, Christmas seems to slow down in a way. It is not that people stop caring about the holiday, but instead, kids grow up and start to take on new responsibilities. School becomes more demanding and jobs and activities take up the majority of their time. The same excitement that those kids once had begins to shrink due to homework, mid-term exams, practices and work. At some point, many people lose track of time and stop participating in the traditions they once considered essential to the Christmas season.
Family traditions also change as kids grow up. Older teens and young adults wake up later. They are less focused on opening gifts for themselves and are more excited about conversation, food or simply spending time together. The rush to unwrap presents before the sun comes up is just not there as kids grow into young adults. These changes in family dynamics contribute to how traditions are changed and gone about in the future.
Even if traditions fade over the years, it does not mean Christmas becomes less meaningful. In the Christian religion, the entire meaning behind Christmas is to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. In many cases, kids stop focusing on receiving presents and start focusing on the real reason that Christmas became a celebrated holiday.
While it may seem that kids grow out of all of their childhood traditions over time, this is not the case. People begin to create new traditions as they get older and as time goes on. Someone might have had a tradition of baking cookies on Christmas Eve and would now rather watch movies with loved ones. New traditions bring a new type of happiness and joy. Having traditions that grow and change with kids allows families to celebrate in new ways. While the excitement and rush of childhood Christmas cannot be held onto forever, it can turn into a different kind of excitement that comes from growing up and becoming more mature.
This transition is sometimes a sore subject because people do not want to say that Christmas could be losing its magic with age. Many people feel nostalgic when talking about their past Christmas experiences that they loved. Childhood memories of Christmas are associated with the magic behind it, so the decline of that magical feeling can seem like Christmas is losing something important. However, as kids grow up, they learn that the holiday spirit is not based on having specific traditions every year, but on the meaning behind them.
What remains consistent, even as family traditions change, is the spirit of the season and the reason for celebrating. No matter how old, people still look forward to seeing family and feeling a sense of connection. They also value the warmth of the holiday, along with the warm smells and chilly weather.
Growing out of Christmas traditions does not mean the holiday has lost its meaning. Instead, it shows that kids and teens are growing up. The excitement that is experienced during childhood Christmas turns into comfort and connection. The traditions of the past might be slowly moved away from, but new traditions are created each year. Even though the traditions may change, the feeling of the season comes back each year, bringing comfort, warmth and a sense of community and family that lasts forever.
