Christmas Just Isn’t As Special For Teens

The idea that Christmas is an infinitely more magical day to children than anyone else has been the subject of countless movies and books, a few of which were good, but most of which were sentimental pap.

But even if overdone, like most cliches, it’s pretty much true: Christmas is aimed at little kids.

When you were a wee tyke, Christmas was the time of the big guy in the red suit who bestowed upon lucky children really cool Star Wars toys, had helpers in every shopping mall and street corner, and flew over your house (accompanied by a mysterious whirring noise that parents explained as Rudolph sneezing) every night at 6:45 p.m. the week before Christmas.

You looked forward to it more than any other day of the year, except for the day when you would become a member of the real A-Team. (I’m still looking forward to that one.)

Those colorful boxes under the tree drove you crazy with what might be in them, and the day you finally got to tear off that wrapping was the greatest day of your life, until the mystery turned out to be a reindeer sweater two sizes too small.

Despite the unfortunate sweater, Christmas was the focal point of your year, and the best part of it, too.

But what do teenagers do now that The A-Team was canceled, we know all those presents are undersized reindeer sweaters and, no, Virginia. there really isn’t a Santa Claus?

Like it or not, some of the magic can go out of the holiday when you stop believing that the jolly, fat elf exists and find out it’s been your parents eating the cookies, drinking the milk and bringing the presents the whole time.

When I finally deduced the truth, I was kind of happy, because I could blame my parents for putting coal in my stocking, not Santa Claus, whom I’d never been able to negotiate with in person.

I was also kind of angry when I found out those countless letters I’d sent to Santa explaining the previous year’s actions and groveling piteously for the Millennium Falcon with real laser action, had not gone to the North Pole but in fact had been sent to Duluth, where a fat mail clerk named Elmer had probably used them to line the cage of his canary, Zippy.

Many teens seem to have come to grips with the loss of Santa by finding other things about Christmas to enjoy. Josh Stowell and Kurt Plaster both seem to feel the time off from school and all the time to sleep in more than makes up for the absence of St. Nick. Plaster especially enjoys “sleeping late on Christmas Day,” now that he isn’t so intent on opening presents.

Rob Thorson, an NC senior, said “Those Christmas specials on TV are really cool!” and that he “still feels like a little kid” right before opening his presents.

Christmas makes some teens feel like little kids again, and that’s great.

Brian Donovan, a junior at NC, says he enjoys “spending time with my family,” though he may have been being sarcastic, I’m not sure.

Family time, increasingly rare in these topsy-turvy ‘90s when even the dog works two jobs, is a good way to make Christmas mean something and be special. It may also make you want to go to a college as far away from all relatives as possible, but at least you learned something.

Brian also suggested that if I spent more time with my family, they’d stop giving me coal. I have yet to test his theory.

Not surprisingly, “getting stuff I really want” still makes Christmas the best time of the year.

“When you’re a little kid, you just want cheap toys that usually break after Christmas,” said Nat Sampson, an NC senior. “Now that I’m older I get bigger presents that cost a lot more money!”

This may work for some people, but since I’ve never gotten anything but underwear, those reindeer sweaters and coal since I was five, it doesn’t help me a lot.

But for some teens, all this consumerism has dissolved Christmas into just another Hallmark holiday.

“Christmas is just way too commercial,” says Dan Pringle, a NC senior. He thinks that ever since St. Nick “turned into just another cartoon character,” Christmas lost most of its enjoyment for him.

When I suggested he watch a few Christmas specials to get him in that childlike mood, he retorts, “Christmas shows are even worse. They’re just loud half-hour commercials for toys.”

Obviously he hasn’t seen the Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers Kung Fu Christmas Special yet.

I respond by bringing up that holiday TV chestnut, “It’s a Merry Christmas Charlie Brown,” which espouses anti-commercial views and touts love and friendship as the true meaning of Christmas.

“I’ve got sympathy for Charlie Brown,” Pringle says. “He knew what it’s all about. I’m down with Brown!”

But the sad reality is that the Peanuts gang is now seen on commercials for Met Life and other organizations. Something went wrong there, but for those of you who are feeling disillusioned about Christmas, Charlie’s Christmas special will always be there. You just have to ignore the fact that the Peanuts sold out.

Christmas is a great holiday for everybody, not just for little kids. You just have to find ways to enjoy it and not be depressed, which really isn’t that hard.

Except for the occasional fruitcake, the food’s a lot better, people are a lot nicer to each other and school is a long time away. And best of all, I’ll be able to add to my coal fort in the back yard.