Christmas as an adult: Has it lost its magic?

The anticipation and excitement of Christmas as a child is a feeling we all distinctly remember – whether you would spend the evening before meticulously preparing carrots for Rudolph, or getting cosy on the sofa, illuminated by the light of your tv screen as your favourite Christmas film plays out before you. Christmas is a magical time for children, but as an adult, it seems that this festive magic has dissipated. Don’t get me wrong, Christmas is one of the best times of the year, but can it ever be as magical as it was in our innocent little minds?

As a child, at the core of Christmas excitement is the belief that Santa will climb down your chimney, whilst his reindeers rest on the roof above you. However, as an adult, there is inevitably less excitement surrounding Christmas – as we know what to expect. I think I can speak on behalf of most young adults when I say that waking up to open presents is most definitely still exciting, but after gift exchanges and festive breakfasts, the day soon becomes normal. As an only child, the latter part of the day for me seems like any other, but I guess it is a different experience for everyone. 

However, whilst we may not spend endless hours wondering how Santa can possibly get around the whole world in one night, the festivities of the Christmas period are certainly something we don’t want to miss out on...just substitute the hot chocolates for baileys and the magic is revived! Christmas is a period for celebrating with loved ones, so for those with large families and little ones, the magic is still prevalent. In a discussion about this with my colleague, she commented on how “Christmas is about spending the day with your loved ones, whether they are here or whether we are remembering the ones who have left us. It is a time for happiness and reminiscing on old Christmases”. She went on to say how your “Christmas magic resurfaces” when you have children, seeing “your little ones face light up” on Christmas morning. So, whilst we may not believe in all the Christmas magic ourselves, we can certainly still experience the joy of Christmas, especially through others.

It is hard to say whether Christmas has lost its magic as an adult or not. Those of you that have big family gatherings with little ones running around your feet would probably say that Christmas is still a magical experience. However, as an only child, and someone who doesn’t have any children around to revel in the magic with, I am inclined to say that Christmas is not as exciting as it once was. Don’t get me wrong, I love the festive period…but is it as magical as it was during childhood? I’m not too sure.