Merry Christmas Eve! So it’s the second to last day of blogmas and by the time you’re reading this, I will be on a plane! (Find out why here.)

It’s been a challenging and rewarding first blogmas and I have a few more posts planned for the rest of December, but they’re all pre-scheduled and won’t be promoted on social media, so be sure to follow this blog on WordPress to get those posts! 

Today, since I’ve talked about historical Christmas, my own traditions, and my Yule traditions, I thought I’d take a day to tell you all what this all means to me. Why is Christmas special to me? I’ve been thinking about it a lot this year being in a new place and having new traditions, both from my future in-laws and ones that Josie and I created together. I felt more Christmas spirit this past year than I have in a while and I think that’s because I’ve really taken a moment to ask myself which traditions mean more to me and which can change. 

I think my meaning of Christmas is very interesting because I’m not Christian, in fact, I’m very much a proud witch! (That’s not to say I’m judgemental everyone has a different path and all the power to you!) I celebrate Yule, and though it means a lot to me and my connection with my faith it doesn’t hold the same meaning that Christmas does. Yule means the end of the year, the birth of the new God, and the return of Spring. It means a connection to my spirituality and the guiding forces in my life.

Christmas means something more. Childhood wonder, magic, and giving all come to mind. It means family and a connection to my heritage and family traditions (which being Irish do connect me back to my pagan routes as I do follow Celtic traditions). To me, Christmas is the embodiment of the complete trust of believing in things you can’t see as children do.

I never had a moment or an event as a child where I stopped believing in Santa Claus. There was no moment where I got mad because he didn’t bring me what I wanted or when I just decided I was too old. My belief and trust in him never truly went away– it just changed. I still believe in Santa, but not in a physical sense. I don’t believe a chubby man comes down chimneys and leave kids presents, I believe in what he stands for. To me, that’s magic, the act of giving, and goodwill. Santa teaches us to be kind and good to those around us and to give. He teaches us faith in what we cannot see and to believe in the magic of childhood wonder.

Walt Disney once said, “Growing old is mandatory, but growing up is optional.” That’s a quote I remember often when writing or dreaming. That’s always been a part of me, childlike wonder and imagination that I’ve never lost and I’m quite proud the world hasn’t taken from me. christmas reminds me that it’s all part of my good soul and warmth towards other people. 

Christmas means family, heritage, magic, imagination, kindness, and warmth in the dead of winter when the rest of the world is dark and cold. Christmas to me means hope and believing in everything and anything. 

This Christmas I challenge you to ask yourself what it means to you. Let me know what you come up with in the comments!