Beech Tree News Network

We are approaching the holiday season. The next three big holidays – Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s – are just days or weeks away. These holidays tend to keep us busy, but are also accompanied by seasonal joy. Personally, I look forward to the activities that accompany each of these holidays. 

Thinking about this season, I asked friends and family: “Of these three holidays, which do you most look forward to and why: Thanksgiving, Christmas, or the New Year (Eve and Day)?” Their responses are listed below.

-Christmas because we celebrate that God sent His only Son to rescue us from sin.

-This is a hard one because I love them all for very different reasons. Christmas is the most magical and I love gifting surprises that I think people will love. But surprisingly, I think, I most look forward to Thanksgiving. All that’s required is a delicious meal, and we spend time talking and visiting with family. I simply love it.

-Christmas is my favorite holiday of the year! I love to decorate and host family and friends, then we have the beautiful lights, the food is always wonderful, and just getting to spend time with the people you love is my favorite! It’s a very busy time of year, but I love all of it and don’t want to ever miss a minute of it!

-That’s tough. I really love all three for different reasons. Thanksgiving, as a social studies teacher, is a favorite. Teaching the colonies is one of my favorite topics, and of course, the kids love all of our lessons around Thanksgiving. Christmas is a wonderful time with my family, with lots of games and movies, and spending time together, focusing on Jesus and the amazing way that God brought Him to earth as a baby. New Year’s is a fresh start – it’s time to reset and restart.

-I don’t really love any of the holidays except that I get to spend time with my family, I feel a lot like Charlie Brown in that it seems to just be too commercial, too much about how much money you spend. I’m just a hum bug or a scrooge, I guess. 

-Christmas and Thanksgiving.

-Christmas mainly, now that I have my daughter to see her enjoy it.

-Out of these three holidays, I look forward to Christmas most. I like all the different get togethers. I especially enjoy the get together with the granddaughters opening all their gifts and seeing their excitement! I also enjoy looking at all the Christmas decorations.

-Thanksgiving! I love getting together with loved ones and just being grateful for life and relationships, without the consumerism of Christmas or having to stay up late on New Year’s. I do really love Advent and get very excited about celebrating the birth of our Lord, but I honestly enjoy reflecting on those things in more low-key environments with my husband and kids and our church.

-I most look forward to Christmas because of the children. I love to see the magic in their eyes. It’s also a yearly reminder of the greatest gift, Jesus, and what God has done for us.

-I have really never been much of a holiday person and am not one now. 

-I most look forward to Christmas because it’s the only holiday that truly feels magical.

-I look forward to them all because they’re all meaningful. But Christmas is special. I always look forward to celebrating the birth of our Lord and Savior coming into this world! I enjoy the special Christmas songs of the season, and family time at Christmas is always very special as we celebrate together.

-Always Christmas!

-I like Christmas the best as it is a magical time of year! Snow, kids getting excited about Santa Claus, family visits to celebrate and enjoy the time spent together. Not to mention, I love gift giving.

-Thanksgiving. It’s about getting together with family and eating good food with no pressure of buying Christmas presents.

-Christmas is special because of the meaning as well as watching kids enjoy. Thanksgiving is a lot of cooking, and New Year’s Eve is boring at our age.

-Christmas is my favorite, by far. It’s the only celebration of the year that feels magical to me. The spirit of giving, along with festive lights and other colorful decorations are things I look forward to enjoying with family every year.

-I look forward most to Christmas. My parents always made it so magical when I was a little girl, and my Mama still makes it special. I love giving people gifts, but the true meaning of Christmas is the best gift of all.

-Christmas, I love the joy the season brings, celebrating with family and celebrating the birth of Christ.

I’ve read: “Family is not defined by our genes…,” and “the holidays are a time for sharing love and joy with those we hold dear.” Thanksgiving, Christmas, and the New Year each provide opportunities to be with others. And the time we spend with family and friends is indeed a blessing.