Olivia Alberton (she/her/hers), Low Entropy Volunteer Writer
It’s the most wonderful time of the year . . . or is it? The snow is gently falling, the bright Christmas lights hung on porch railings are beautifully contrasting against the blanket of white. The malls are filled with people excitingly shopping for loved ones while Christmas music is playing in the background. Or . . . the snow is coming down in a torrential downpour and the Christmas lights that were a pain to put up are not having the desired effect. The malls are packed with people stress shopping trying to scour the aisles for something to give to their loved ones, while Christmas music is blaring in the background. These are two different pictures of what the holidays can look like. For some, it truly is the most wonderful time of the year, while for others, it really isn’t. I believe there is the idea that the holidays are expected to be a time of happiness and togetherness, and to feel like there’s a little bit of magic in the air. Sappy, I know. This idea has been instilled in society for decades, and was, and continues to be, spread through movies, songs and commercials, all creating a pressure to be happy. After all, who wants to be a Grinch during the holidays?
The Grinch is a classic Christmas character, notorious for not liking Christmas. While Whoville is filled with decorations and people excited for Christmas, the Grinch is living in a dark cave with only his dog Max to keep him company. In a way, one could sympathize with the poor Grinch—all by himself while the people of Whoville are a community. It is only at the end of the story that the Grinch becomes a member of that community, making him happier.
I believe being part of the Whoville community is going to make future Christmases much more meaningful and joyful for the Grinch. That’s what these holiday movies are all about. For example, Home Alone, Christmas with the Kranks, and It’s a Wonderful Life all focus on family and community. The holidays can be a hard time for those who don’t have this. It can feel very lonely—fewer place settings at the table, the house a little more quiet, a sense that there should be “more.” It can be especially lonely for a person spending the holidays alone. They could tell themselves that it doesn’t matter, but a small part of them yearns for that family. To harken back to a point I made earlier, I think there is a desire to be happy around the holidays because it seems like everyone around you has all the “requirements” for Christmas—the main one being having a family and sense of community. If one feels like they are missing that, it truly is hard to be happy.
There is also a pressure to make other people happy during the holidays because you don’t want to bring them down. The prime example are parents. Parents are tasked with making Christmas special for their children, which is a big responsibility. With that responsibility comes pressure. They want to make sure they give their kids the best toys, provide them with a good meal and build Christmas traditions that they’ll remember when they grow older. They do all this while dealing with the regular struggles and stress of everyday life. Some parents also get a seasonal job or pick up extra shifts to make more money to help with the holiday expenses. There is also added pressure for low-income families or single parent households to deliver the Christmas they want to give to their kids. With the financial stress that comes with the holidays, it can be hard to be merry and bright, but parents don’t want their children to see that, so they do their best to mask it.
In addition to making other people happy during the holidays, there is also a pressure to make the holidays “count” for yourself. To make the season count, you make a list of everything that you should be doing—watch Christmas movies, bake cookies, decorate a gingerbread house, go to a Christmas tree farm, take a drive to look at Christmas lights at night, etc . . . you can get lost in the list and, rather than being in the moment, it can feel like you are just checking off the boxes. If you fail to check off an item, it feels like you’re missing out. The pressure to make the most of the holidays can sadly take the fun out of it.
I think it is fair to say that we all feel a sense of pressure to be happy during the holidays because we’ve been taught that the holidays are a happy time. We buy into this idea and try to make the season merry and bright. However, this is easier to do for some than for others. The holidays can be a very hard time for people who have lost a loved one, are going through financial hardships or are feeling lonely. Problems do not disappear because of a special date on the calendar. At best, happiness is not ongoing but temporary, and keeping this in mind can go a long way to reducing the pressure to be happy.
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Olivia is a McMaster University graduate with a combined honours in English & cultural studies and history. She loves to read, write and, of course, drink coffee.