Evan Virtue '25
Each year, the holiday season is defined by packed highways, frenzied airports, and bustling train stations as travelers embark on their various holiday destinations. With the advent of cars and mass transportation in the 20th century, travelers have increasingly more opportunities to visit family and friends who live further and further apart. In recent years, the COVID pandemic was the only force that could slow surging travel rates, but nonetheless, data highlights that travel numbers in 2024 have crept back to pre-COVID levels. Furthermore, holiday travel is expected to reach a record high this season. The steady increase in travel is not only reshaping how people celebrate holidays but also presenting challenges that need to be addressed. For families, holidays offer long periods to leave the demands of work and school and spend time leisurely. With access to new technology like online booking sites and travel apps, more people have greater access to new experiences with much more ease and convenience. Additionally, with the influx of travelers, the airline and hotel industry has grown significantly with many new options to accommodate the multitudes of different tourists. However, flight prices have shockingly increased by 25% in the last year, and many plane tickets will be especially expensive around the holidays. Even with the increase in budget airline options, it is still important to be mindful of the overall increase in prices. While price hikes remain a serious issue for passengers, the increased holiday travel numbers bring a significant benefit to the economy. Major cities like New York and Chicago experience a boom from foreign tourists while resort towns like Vale and Leavenworth host wealthy patrons looking to indulge in their holiday whims. The uptick in travel during the holidays leads to more job opportunities and more economic prosperity for everyone involved in the tourism sector. Further travel inspiration often comes from social media. Pictures shared across the internet depict exotic locations and fantastical experiences and draw many people to seek their own adventures. In this age of technology and interconnectedness, the tourism market thrives off free advertising from social media. However, more tourism brings more issues. The environmental impact is significant, Mass transportation contributes to high carbon emissions which has a devastating impact on the environment. Also, many popular travel destinations can become overcrowded and infrastructure can be severely strained, often diminishing the quality of life for locals and the experience for travelers. As global travel only increases, it is important for governments to set regulations to protect all citizens and the health of the environment. Travel unites families and cultures, so it is paramount that tourism proceeds safely and constructively. Sources: https://www.cloudwards.net/where-does-the-world-want-to-go-for-christmas/ https://www.cnbc.com/select/airline-ticket-prices-are-up-25-percent-why-and-how-to-save/ https://recommend.com/featured/record-numbers-expected-for-2024-holiday-travel/ https://ourworldindata.org/tourism https://www.point.me/c/insights/2024-holiday-travel-forecast#christmas-travel https://www2.deloitte.com/content/dam/insights/articles/us187627_cic-holiday-travel/2024-Deloitte-Holiday-Travel-Study.pdf
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Calla Privor '27
As a little kid, I would, like any kid, claim Christmas as my favorite day of the year. Even though I grew up more Jewish than my mom’s family’s Catholicism, I could never wait for the countdown to Christmas morning, sitting in my living room opening presents with my family. My parents’ hand-painted ceramic menorah, sitting on the side table in the dining room, looked on over the holly-decked scene. The measly stack of awkwardly wrapped gifts for each of Hanukkah’s eight nights stood next to the drips of melted wax from previous years. For most years in my memory, the two holidays have overlapped. As a not-particularly-religious family, these two celebrations were two of the handful we recognized, given where they fall on the school calendar (and the focus on presents). But the frequent overlap turned our house into a revolving door of “we’d love to see you for [insert holiday here]”, and my phone screen and endless line of well-wishes or, more often, reminders to celebrate each one. With two conflicting faiths, I did not, in fact, receive double the presents, rather most of them waited for the twenty-fifth instead of having their paper torn open alongside the lighting of our menorah’s wicks. Some years, I would grab a parcel wrapped in cartoon Santa paper after saying the prayer with the shamash in hand. Perhaps this should be interpreted as some form of peacemaking religious syncretism and familial reconciliation, but more often, forgetting to buy a roll of blue-and-white striped wrapping paper represented the opposite. With the Jewish side of my family questioning our dedication to putting up our ten-foot plastic tree every December and the Cristian side asking what they should buy me eight of, the holiday season marked my annual trip across the proverbial religious tightrope. I still bake cookies for Santa every year (but let’s be honest, there are never any left by Christmas Eve), but Santa was spoiled for me years ago when my grandpa asked my mom where the guitar I had just unwrapped came from (“Santa!” “You got it from Amazon, didn’t you?”). One year, as the eight nights of Hanukkah progressed, my dad became less and less excited with each package he opened (“monkey socks!!”; “socks!”, “more socks…” “let me guess, socks.”). The older I became, and more aware of the two battling traditions, the love I once had for Christmas morning faded. While I still love going to see the Washington Ballet’s Nutcracker every winter or going to Christmas Eve dinner at the same French restaurant every year, these holidays have become less about opening presents wrapped in the wrong religion’s wrapping paper and more about seeing extended family. And so, the holiday I’ve come to look forward to most has become Turkey Day (despite not eating turkey). The opportunity to spend time with my extended family—without battling traditions parrying in the next room over—is a welcome break at the worst point in the semester. For weeks, I look forward to standing in the kitchen rolling out pie dough for my dad to ball back up and redo himself, and I scour New York Times Cooking’s homepage for new takes on stuffing (the best part of the meal). Rather than entertaining each side of the family on different sides of the house, friends and family gather in the dining room, joined together by the (often disjointed) meal in the center of the table. Classic rock blasts from our living room speakers in place of holiday music. Although we don’t exchange gifts or open stockings, we still light our good candles, still celebrate together, and still eat good food. In the absence of these traditions, we can appreciate each other’s presence instead of competing traditions. Maybe all we need to come together is some pie. Ginny Schweiter '26
As the holiday season approaches, I find my life increasingly invaded by holiday products. From Christmas themed everything to passed down decorations in my house to lights on the cathedral, the holiday spirit is reflected in the most American of ways: consumption. Now, I’m not one to scoff at a good Christmas patterned blanket, but it's easy to wonder if we’ve drifted too far away from the true meaning of the holidays in service of consumerism. As the child of two nonreligious parents, my Christmas is very much the product of my parents growing up Christian and inheriting none of the beliefs but all of the traditions. If you were to visit my house around Christmas, you would find all the classics: a live Christmas tree bedecked with ornaments, candles on the mantel, and a nativity scene in the cabinet. While the tree is filled with angel ornaments, the main figure on my mind during Christmas as a child was good old American Santa, not St. Nicholas, and certainly not the main man himself, Jesus. I was much more concerned with the presents I was soon to receive. So, is this bad? Have we been too distracted by the shiny presents and the limited-edition holiday candles and lost the point of it all? I would say not. While my Christmas is a strange mix of Christian traditions and American consumption, the overarching theme is gathering our family and spending our time together. If that comes in the form of putting up hippo ornaments alongside the baby Jesus, who am I to complain? Preserving older elements of the holiday allows us to honor and remember those traditions while also building new traditions that continue to bring us together when the older ones might not have. Despite the definite influence of consumption on our holiday season and the ease of getting swept away by it all, by Christmas Eve we always seem to find our way back to the simplicity of gathering with our families and friends to celebrate together. So, while seeing an anthropomorphic snowman dance around on your TV might feel a little disconnected from the birth of baby Jesus, remember that what the holidays have always done, and will continue to do, is bring people together, and that remains regardless of the way you celebrate. Henry Barnett '26
As the Christmas season approaches, we start to think about the many holiday festivities that arise as the temperature lowers. Family in town, snow, hot chocolate, a mall Santa; these are some of the many elements that some would argue make up the core of Christmas. However, some others might say gift-giving is one of the most important, if not the most important element of Christmas. After all, we are bombarded with gift-related reminders throughout the whole holiday season. Kicking it off with Black Friday, closely followed by Cyber Monday, and loads of advertisements about buying the perfect gift for the ones we love are hammered into our heads. Let’s pivot to the other end of the year. A perfect July day, only improved by the pride of our nation, the Fourth of July. It’s been celebrated by Americans dating back to that first momentous day in 1776, with fireworks and all. You can enjoy a burger fresh off the grill, and play cornhole, waiting for the night’s grand finale. Since we live in the nation’s capital, we are surrounded by constant reminders of why we have the Fourth of July in the first place. What if you had to choose between these two? I asked the question: would you rather never celebrate the Fourth of July again or never receive a Christmas gift again? The answers were shocking. Out of the 108 answers I received, 61 students and faculty answered they would never celebrate the Fourth of July again, with the remaining 47 opting to never receive a Christmas gift again. Mind you, the question never states that Christmas cannot be celebrated, yet people chose to drop the Fourth of July instead of celebrating Christmas without receiving presents. Curious of these results, I asked several people from each side, the reasoning behind their decision. For the anti-Fourth of July group, the answer was similar throughout: the Fourth of July does not carry enough weight in their mind to be valued over a gift. Many said that the Fourth did not even make their top 5 holidays. On the other hand, the answer of the 47 was almost cliché. Many said they don’t even receive great Christmas gifts as they get older, maybe just a couple of socks and a book. However, an alternative answer I received was about the bombardment of advertising gimmicks mentioned previously. They said Christmas marketing from stores feels too artificial and that they wouldn’t mind giving up the receiving of gifts. Both sides of the argument have valid reasoning for their own stances. The question itself raises more than just a superficial idea about what someone values more in their holidays, but why we prioritize certain traditions over others. It challenges us to reflect on what truly makes a holiday meaningful: the tangible aspects like gifts and fireworks, or the intangible ones like connection, pride, and nostalgia. By examining these choices, we gain insight into how personal values and societal influences shape the way we celebrate. As the Grinch would say, “Maybe Christmas, he thought, doesn’t come from a store. Maybe Christmas… perhaps… means a little bit more.” Merit Johnson '26
The holidays are here, and while it’s easy to get caught up in the whirlwind of deadlines, exams, and the pressure to be productive, there’s something undeniably magical about this time of year—something that pulls us back home, grounds us, and reminds us of what truly matters. Thanksgiving, with its warm meals and laughter-filled moments, has a way of giving us just the reset we need, even if we know that midterms are literally lurking(!) right around the corner. I find it funny how no matter how chaotic life gets, the holidays have this incredible power to slow us down. When we think of Thanksgiving, we often picture tables piled high with food, family gathered close, and the joy of simply being together. But in the hustle and bustle of everyday life, it's easy to forget how valuable these moments really are. Yes, we’re all aware that midterms are just days away and that we probably should be studying instead of indulging in pumpkin pie or trying to find the best Black Friday sale in the nearest mall. But there’s a deep truth to this: sometimes, taking a step back to be with the people we love is the best thing we can do for ourselves—mentally, physically, and even academically. Let’s face it, in the middle of the semester, we’re running essentially on fumes. I for one have been known to often have my head fully in my hands most hours of the day and am much closer to “surviving” than “thriving” my junior year. The constant pressure to keep going can leave us feeling burned out, disconnected from ourselves and others. And while we might think we’re being productive by plowing through our tasks without taking a break, the truth is that we’re not really functioning at our best when we’re overwhelmed and stressed. That’s where the holidays come in. They remind us to slow down, to take a breath, and to reconnect with the things that matter most. There’s something about being home with family that allows us to relax in a way we can’t quite do when we’re caught up in the rush of daily life. As I am writing this, my sister has just come home from college and words cannot describe how much I’ve missed her. Whether it's helping someone with the stuffing, playing a game of cards with cousins, or simply sitting on the couch next to a sibling you haven’t seen in weeks, these moments of connection give us a sense of peace that is hard to find in the middle of exam season. And then, of course, there are Friendsgivings—the perfect excuse to take a break from the grind and gather with your chosen family. Friendsgiving is a beautiful tradition that brings together people who might not share your blood, but share your heart. It’s a reminder that the people who know you best—who’ve seen you at your most stressed, your most vulnerable, and your most joyful—are the ones who truly understand the value of slowing down and savoring the moment. Whether you’re cooking together or showing up with a dish to share, these gatherings have a special kind of magic that remind us we’re not in this alone. But what’s really remarkable about these moments is the way they fill us up in ways that textbooks and study guides just can’t. It’s about the conversations that linger long after the food has been cleared away, the inside jokes that never get old, and the comfort of knowing that no matter how far we go or how busy we get, there’s always a place for us to return to. These shared experiences are the glue that holds us together, grounding us in the midst of all the chaos. And let's not forget the benefits that come with stepping away from our screens and the stress of academia for a little while. Research (and my all-knowing mom) has said that spending time with family and friends can lower stress levels, boost our mood, and even improve our immune system. So, while it might feel like taking a break is a luxury you can’t afford when midterms are approaching, it’s actually an investment in your well-being—and that means you’ll return to your studies with a clearer mind and a more focused energy. But beyond all of that, Thanksgiving reminds us of something even more profound: gratitude. In the rush of our daily lives, it’s easy to take things for granted—the simple joys, the people who support us, and even the opportunities we have to learn and grow. The holidays invite us to reflect on the good in our lives, and that sense of gratitude can be a powerful antidote to the stress and anxiety that can accompany midterms. When you’re surrounded by family and friends, it’s impossible not to take a moment to appreciate the love and support that’s been given to you over the years. And when you look around and see the familiar faces, hear the laughter, and share the food, you realize that the challenges ahead—whether they’re exams or deadlines—are just a small part of the bigger picture. You’ve already accomplished so much just by being part of a community that loves and believes in you. And that, in itself, is something worth being thankful for. So here’s to the holidays—those little moments that remind us of what truly matters. To family, to friends, to slowing down and savoring the most important parts of life. To remembering that, even in the busiest of times, we can always make room for what fills our hearts. ‘Slow down, you’re doing fine’, and a very happy Thanksgiving to all who celebrate! Mishah Hamid '26
Love Actually isn’t just a Christmas movie—it’s THE Christmas movie, and it earns that title with a perfect mix of holiday chaos and unhinged charm. The film incorporates stories of a prime minister frantically dancing around 10 Downing Street, Bill Nighy turning “Love is all Around” into a Christmas anthem, a guy confessing his love via cue cards as if he is in an awkward Hallmark ad, and way more. The plot is a tangled web of questionable decisions, but that’s what makes it so relatable. It’s messy, ridiculous, and over-the-top, and that’s why it’s the best. One of the most ridiculous moments in Love Actually is Colin Frissell’s genius idea that a British accent and a one-way ticket to America are all he needs to find true love. Colin believes that simply crossing the Atlantic with his accent will somehow transform him into a heartthrob. Surprisingly, in a completely ludicrous turn of events, it works. He lands in Wisconsin and is instantly surrounded by a group of women obsessing over his accent and “exotic” Britishness. It’s so unrealistic and delusional, but that’s what makes Love Actually a Christmas classic. The film thrives on wildly improbable and ridiculously romantic moments, which is exactly why it captures the magic of the holidays so well. It reveals that anything can happen during the season, even if it’s completely insane. Though the film offers different love stories that are hilariously messy, it also offers stories that illustrate emotional rollercoasters. For example, the film incorporates one of my favorite songs, Joni Mitchell’s "Both Sides Now" , which delivers one of the film’s most emotional and poignant moments, capturing the bittersweet realities of Christmas. Emma Thompson’s character, Karen, discovers her husband’s betrayal when she realizes the necklace she thought was hers was meant for his villain of a secretary. In the privacy of her bedroom, she listens to Mitchell’s haunting lyrics, quietly breaking down as the weight of disappointment and heartbreak sets in. The song’s reflection on love’s complexities and how time reshapes our understanding of it, mirrors Karen’s emotional journey perfectly. This moment isn’t just about heartbreak; it’s about the universal, unspoken struggles many face during the holidays, when joy and pain often coexist. It’s a reminder that Christmas isn’t always perfect—and that’s what makes it feel real. Lastly, the relationship between the Prime Minister and Natalie is a perfect example of Love Actually's charm, where the most ridiculous situations somehow end up being the most endearing. Here’s the leader of the country getting completely thrown off by his office tea lady. Instead of acting like a normal adult, he’s awkwardly dancing through 10 Downing Street as if he is in some extremely cliché rom com (don’t get me wrong, I love Hugh Grant in Notting Hill), and having clumsy, overly emotional conversations in staff meetings. It’s absurd, yet that’s what makes it work. Love Actually thrives on the chaos and imperfection of these moments, showing that the magic of Christmas isn’t about perfection—it’s about embracing the unpredictability, the mess, and the joy of love in all its awkward, wonderful forms. Love Actually is the best Christmas movie of all time because it perfectly captures the true essence of the season without any pretense of being "heartwarming" or "wholesome." It reminds you of that relative who shows up to Christmas dinner with questionable life choices but somehow ends up being the most entertaining part of the evening. It’s messy, awkward, and full of bad decisions, but that’s exactly why it works. Christmas isn’t about perfection, it’s about surviving the absurdity of it all, and I believe that Love Actually gets that. If you want a movie that delivers the right mix of holiday confusion and cynicality, this one’s for you. Preston Benner '25
The scene is set. It’s a gloomy November afternoon, freshly fallen leaves rustle around a field of grass as two figures emerge. The first, a young girl. Dressed in a blue dress, with her “naturally curly” hair bobbing, she tosses a football to herself as she awaits her friend, a boy of similar age. He’s bald save a squiggle of hair at the center of his forehead, and he sports a yellow collared shirt with a black zig-zag that runs around the whole thing. After some skepticism and debate, the girl at last convinces him to attempt to kick the football while she holds it for him. He runs full force, but at the last moment she pulls the football away, and the boy goes flying up into the air, landing on his back with a plume of dust. After the audience gets a laugh out of this stunt, the boy, accompanied by his friends, his dog, and his dog’s bird, puts on a spectacular Thanksgiving feast consisting of the best buttered toast, popcorn, pretzels, and jelly beans an adolescent can get his hands on. These comedic characters Lucy and Charlie Brown are the products of cartoon strip writer, Charles Schultz (1922-2000). From their first airing in newspapers on October 2, 1950, to the creation of the famous films that are still watched by millions every year, Schultz’s Peanuts is a comic and holiday classic. The family-friendly humor and diverse cast of characters––eg. dusty Pig-Pen, bossy Lucy, clumsy Charlie Brown, and sheepish Lunis––easily appeal to everyone of all ages. Once the lovable Peanuts established their following, at its height in the 1990s the franchise raked in over one billion dollars per year, primarily via licensing for merchandise. These days, Schultz’s creation is more well-known for the films that emerged from the comics. While over a dozen holiday specials and films were made, three rose above them all. The first and perhaps most iconic is A Charlie Brown Christmas. First airing on December 9, 1965 on CBS, the story was an instant success. An estimated 15.5 million people watched that night as Charlie Brown dealt with the depression of the rising commercialism of Christmas––a typical feeling of children as they grow up––combined with the humiliation of buying a maimed tree which acts as a metaphor for the spirit of the kids throughout the film. It's up to his second-best friend Linus––no one trumps Snoopy––to save the holiday for him. Linus reminds Charlie about the religious side of Christmas, quoting the story of Jesus’ birth and finishing with, “That’s what Christmas is all about Charlie Brown.” The film concludes with the whole gang singing around the newly refurbished tree, happily celebrating together. A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving is another holiday classic. The public first saw it on CBS on November 20, 1973. It was so popular it won an Emmy Award the following year. This Schultz film was special because it was the first that, save the opening stunt with Charlie kicking the football, it was created from a completely original script, rather than being copied from any previously written strips. The Peanuts have always been popular, but they experienced a mass renewal in fandom when Blue Sky Studios dropped their A Peanuts Movie back in 2015. Produced in part by the son and grandson of Charles Schultz, the film dives into a side of Charlie Brown that often goes unseen––his love life. Throughout the 88 minutes, we watch as Charlie tries to get the attention of the “Little Red-Haired Girl” at his school, while Snoopy writes a novel in which he is a WWI Flying Ace trying to stave off the Red Baron from his love interest, Fifi. Whether for nostalgia or entertainment, Peanut-fanatics came in droves to the box office, which took in around 250 million. While Charles Schultz is no longer making comics, his legacy lives on through his beloved characters and the joy they bring to all who interact with them. Whether they are read or watched, his Peanuts will be a comic and holiday classic for years to come. Bibliography https://schulzmuseum.org/about-schulz/schulz-biography/#:~:text=The%20first%20Peanuts%20strip%20appeared,%2Dsimple%20four%2Dpanel%20creation https://www.investors.com/news/management/leaders-and-success/charles-schulz-drew-peanuts-comic-strip/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Charlie_Brown_Christmas https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Charlie_Brown_Thanksgiving https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Peanuts_Movie Willem Cohn '26
Hundreds of years after Saint Nicholas died, the Dutch began writing stories about Sinterklaas, a man who traveled around the world bearing gifts. Then, in the 16th and 17th centuries, tales emerged about “Father Christmas,” an allegorical figure who embodied the Christmas essence. Eventually, Americans combined these stories to create Santa Claus, the beloved white-bearded, red-suited old man now celebrated all over the world. There is a problem, though, with the Santa Claus tradition: instead of just enjoying Santa as a fantastical story, modern parents convince their children that the jolly old plump man is in fact a real, living person who judges their moral character. In doing so, they make a terrible parenting decision, instilling the wrong values into their children and losing sight of the true meaning of Christmas. There are several problems with the Santa Claus tradition. The first and most obvious is that parents are simply lying to their children. In doing so, they set a dishonest example and break the trust that is so important to a relationship. The second problem is the “naughty or nice” concept, which tells children they will get Christmas presents only if they behave well. Parents promote this system because they want their children to act morally upright — the problem is, it doesn’t work. To start, it fails because most parents give their children presents no matter how “naughty” their kids might be, so children are actually rewarded for bad actions. Also, even if this system didn’t operate on a faulty premise, it wouldn’t do its job in the long term. In a study conducted by the University of Alberta, scientists found that children promised with a reward for their good deeds assumed a decreased intrinsic motivation to perform those deeds of their own accord. Therefore, when children inevitably realize the truth concerning the red-dressed character, they are left with a weaker moral compass than they would otherwise have. The children, with the idea that doing good things is only worth the reward, ironically don’t “do good for goodness’ sake” as it’s said in “Santa Claus is Coming to Town,” because Santa promotes the opposite. Another issue with Santa’s system is that it rewards children not so much for being “nice” as for being rich. The quality of gifts parents give is not based on how well their children act; it’s based on how much money they are able and willing to spend. Thus, children in lower-income families might receive fewer or lesser gifts than their peers, making them think that Santa Claus finds them to be worse people. The main problem with forcing belief in Santa Claus isn’t the lying, or the moral shortcomings, or the issues with the “naughty or nice” system – it’s that the whole concept undermines the spirit of Christmas. The idea of receiving one’s deserved gifts from Santa Claus puts all the emphasis on the recipient of the gifts, when the true meaning of Christmas is about the giving itself. Originally, as Christmas is a Christian celebration, the holiday was meant by Christians to celebrate the ultimate gift from God: salvation from sin. The gift was undeserved – it didn’t come because of people’s righteousness, like Santa’s gifts supposedly do – it came from God’s grace and sacrifice. Thus, instead of lying to their children about a made-up fat guy in a red suit, parents should remind their children what Christmas is all about: gratitude for giving. |