With or without enchanting snowfalls and crystal icicles, December is here; Whether or not we are ready, the end of the year is near. As we deeply inhale the familiar scents of candles and fresh-cut pine, see festive lights dancing and hear holiday music invisibly emanating from every shop we pass, we know it’s that time of the year again.
While 2025 may not have been kind to everyone, it most likely changed all of our lives in various ways. While many are looking forward to commemorating a marvelous year and celebrating successes, other brave souls are grateful just to be alive. They have survival stories to tell, whether it’s about natural disasters, health scares or financial hardships. For them, this is also a year to remember and they are glad it’ll soon be over.
Regardless of what we think of 2025 and how we’ve spent it, most of us do wish to ring out the year with good holiday cheer. We want to prepare the best holiday meals for our families and friends, showing our gratitude for their love and support. We want to adorn our homes with the best holiday decor and shower our loved ones with thoughtful presents.
This is the time we all have a sudden surge of energy and wish to bring the year to a joyful, and in some ways, fairytale-like ending. Like a symphony, a year should end on a high note. The Chinese believe that celebrations not only please our eyes, palates and hearts, but also bring us good luck for the coming new year.
Because of all our wishes and high hopes, the holidays often become a stressful time. Simple decisions involving the choices of gifts or the right foods for family feasts turn into difficult tasks. We’re hypnotized by dazzling store displays, trying to envision what our family and friends would like to have and how they’ll react when they unwrap those carefully packed gifts. Will they like them? What if they don’t?
Those who will host a holiday party can also be overwhelmed by table-setting choices, the selection of food and drinks, or the guest list. Sometimes we get so carried away by trivial details that we forget to enjoy the real thing, the holiday season and each other’s company. We need to remind ourselves that holiday parties are, in essence, about celebrating our lives, our very existence here on Earth, without which there would be no successes and accomplishments, no pride or enjoyment. If holiday stress overcomes holiday cheer, then it defeats the purpose of celebration. Remember, holiday festivities are not about perfection but love, and the most wonderful holiday gifts are those that money cannot buy.
