As Christmas rounds the corner, families will be celebrating, loved ones will be gathered together, and children will be full of joy just waiting for the big day to arrive. Many people’s favorite part of this holiday is the gifts that they receive. Getting to unwrap and enjoy the many items they are given. Plenty of others love to share with their friends what they get, like clothes, toys, makeup, candy, and everything in between. But does that ever become a problem?
Not every family has the same dynamic. Ni’Zariia Young, freshman, believes that every family has their own traditions they do and that they shouldn’t feel bad for it. She said, “Just because [what you get is] not what you see on your phone, that doesn’t mean it’s weird.” Many people are more focused on giving their kids an unforgettable experience, such as splurging on a big vacation or doing a ton of winter activities. Some enjoy just spending time with their family, not over-consuming on gifts, and instead just being in the moment, focusing on what really matters to them, the truest gifts in their life. Finally, some families show their love by giving many gifts to their children, seeing the joy on their children’s faces, and knowing that they will appreciate the thought that went into the holiday. All of these are extraordinary ways to celebrate the occasion. But they can all lead to hurt feelings in the end for the people around who don’t get the same opportunities.
Rilie Little, senior, sees many people doing Christmas hauls every year, whether it’s on YouTube, Snapchat, or TikTok; they can be found all around. She said, “I love to watch Christmas haul videos. I think they are fun to watch, but I don’t think I would ever do them.” They can be very entertaining for people, being just another source of dopamine. Many of them have the same kind of theme and are all very similar to each other. A lot of the time, these hauls are filmed by people with very wealthy families. Little said, “The more money you have, the better hauls you have.” This can be very upsetting for teens and kids to watch when their family just doesn’t have the funds to be spoiling them in that way. Not all of them are bad, though; sometimes they can be both helpful and enjoyable for everyone.
Some of the best Christmas hauls to watch are the ones from the people closest to someone. Being able to view a friend’s unboxing can be so much fun and somewhat more realistic. Most of the time, kids in school will post on their Snapchat account just showing their best friends while not bragging about it. At the end of the day, these are still entertaining videos that many people love. Young said, “Not everyone likes them, but they are pretty cool. It’s nice to see what other people get as gifts.”
Christmas is about enjoying the time off and being around the people who are most important to them. It’s not to compare or feel jealous, it’s a time to be cheerful and happy, and sense the love in every gift that is given.
