Christmas season can be almost an unexplainable experience to anyone who has not encountered it before. Whether it is the magic of Santa and his elves, the festive music, or the reunion of family and loved ones, many can agree that Christmas is an exciting and emotional time for people of all ages.

“It’s just so exciting when you get to open something and it’s for you and you know that Santa made it just for you,” senior Landon Kartchner said.

Although Christmas undoubtedly affects the many who celebrate it, it may not do so in a consistent manner. As people grow older and begin to fall away from childhood beliefs in Santa Claus, the holidays may seem to lose some of their “magic.” This loss of Christmas spirit can be due to a variety of reasons, many of which may include financial issues, family hardships, or simply a bad case of teenage “growing pains.”

“Christmas has turned into this holiday where everybody just receives and receives and receives and it just shows how spoiled and ungrateful people are,” sophomore Caitlin Mcnaughtan said.

While Christmas spirit does change in people between the ages of 8-12, it does not vanish completely. As children grow older, they become more aware of the true meaning of Christmas and begin to focus more on the element of giving to loved ones rather than receiving from a man in a red suit. As an example, this change can be seen in holiday-themed movies and media which tend to focus more on the magic of Santa and his reindeer for younger audiences, while shifting to demonstrate the importance of family and friends in productions aimed at adults.

“I think when you’re older, you kinda look at why we have Christmas more but it’s still for the presents and being able to give to other people,” Kartchner said.