Christmas - Admission/Application Essay Example

?Christmas The view of the Christmas tends to evolve over time. From childhood’s innocence that allows kids to have a sense of awe from what seems like a magical change in the surroundings, all the way to how adults sometimes have a pessimistic view of the holiday, there is one thing that never changes for everyone though. That is the wonder and splendor of the childhood Christmases of the past. For children, Christmas is all about the magical being known as Santa Claus, who knows whether a child has been naughty or nice. The man brings gifts to the little children only while the children are in the arms of Mr. Sandman. For some lucky little ones, the grandfather image of the man in the red suit is fulfilled by the real grandfather in their lives. It is this fantasy like memory that sticks with some children until they grow up. The first Santa Claus memory of a child can be almost fantastic in appearance as their innocence shields them from the realization of who the person behind the red suit really is. Sometimes, Santa would break with tradition and actually come and visit the child at his house. A knock on the door would reveal jolly old St. Nick and his wife Mrs. Claus who normally come bearing gingersnaps and hot cocoa for the kids. The man in the red suit is often described by children as smelling of peppermint and gingersnaps. He can let them sit on his lap for a while he gives out beautiful and unforgettable Christmas gifts that they can open before the bigger gifts the next day. Kids who have spent time on Santa's lap describe him as soft by touch and warm to the feel. His gingersnaps and hot cocoa create a tasty combination that makes children crave for Christmas to come sooner every year. They always looke forward to the visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus. This early childhood memory often becomes a trigger in their adult lives with the smell of freshly baked gingersnaps and hot cocoa, or the sounds of Santa's ho-ho-ho in the street bringing back a flood of happy childhood memories. As teenagers, the innocence is stripped away and replaced by the factual knowledge that Christmas is not all about Santa and the gifts he brings. At that time it is all about uniting families and exchanging gifts with your loved ones. For most teenagers, who look forward to the holiday season because of the extended Christmas break, the first signs of the holidays come when they hear the strains of Christmas carols over their local mall sound system. For some teenagers, the holidays become special as they join the rest of the family gathered in the kitchen where the smells of the holiday Christmas feast emanate from. The smell of roasted chicken, a ham baking in the oven, and the eggnog being prepared all combine to create an extra special Christmas memory for those whose innocence may be lost, but their love for the season remains. This time, it is not the physical touch of Santa that is extra special for them. Rather, it is the touching memory that is created in their minds of some of the best Christmases that they will ever experience. As the teenager evolves into an adult, so does their view of the Christmas season. By the time that the child reaches college age, all of the innocence that he once had for the season is totally gone. Moving away to college changes the dynamic of the person's relationship with the Christmas season. The holiday season takes an independent turn as the college aged kid begins to make holiday plans separate from that of his family. The adult is now separating from the child, causing a severe emotional disconnect within some families and their children. That is because the children are now in a position to begin creating Christmas traditions of their own. The vision on the holiday season is now connected to their purchase of their first Christmas tree for their first apartment. The smells of the season will forever be connected with their first attempt at cooking that Christmas roast that their mother used to make. This will often result in the memory of the first Christmas meal being one of burnt food and sandwiches at midnight just to have something to eat. The touch of Christmas is now centered upon how they decorated their pad for the season. But, the one thing that will never change, is that the sound of the Christmas carols at the malls and on the radio will forever be the signal of the official start of the Christmas season. As adults, these people will miss more and more family celebrations because of their difficulty in coming home for the festive season. Usually tied up at work or out on a holiday with their extended family -- their close friends, these people now experience the Christmas season as they never have been able to before. All because they are now spending the Christmas season in various states or countries around the world. The memorable smell of the holiday food is now replaced by the hodge podge of smells coming out of the kitchen of restaurants where their vacation group is billeted. The gifts that are given out are now more material in consideration. Usually winter clothing that helps give a warm touch to the skin. The Christmas carols still blast from the centralized sound system of the hotel, but this time, with a jazzy take on the tunes. The Christmas decorations lose its meaning most of the time. Mainly it happens, because of the impersonal decorations that the hotel staff puts up in lobbies of the hotels and inns. Christmas traditions will continue to evolve over time for everyone. From the innocence of the holiday season, all the way to the modern day celebrations across the country, Christmas will forever be a happy, memory filled event for everyone, whether they are with family or not. Perhaps the best way to sum up the way that people look at the Christmas season is best described by a holiday post in Facebook that has been making the rounds. The post explains that people live through the 4 stages of the holiday season life. These seasons are: 1. You believe in Santa Claus 2. You don't believe in Santa Claus 3. You are Santa Claus 4. You look like Santa Claus. And with that, one sees how the evolution of the holiday season in the lives of people has been constantly evolving without our noticing it. Regardless of what stage of holiday evolution one is in at the moment, nothing erases the fact that Christmas is the most magical season of all for all of those who celebrate the holiday. Read More