Christmas is my favorite time of year, as it is for most people. There isn’t just one thing that makes Christmas my favorite time of year- it isn’t the presents on Christmas morning, or the magic that is all around, or that the whole season celebrates Jesus. Christmas is my favorite season because of all of these combined- every part of the Christmas season is what makes it my favorite season. As I have recently been feeling the Christmas magic in full force- I decided I was would try to pick my favorite part of the season, and write about it. However, when that proved too challenging, I decided to pick one amazing aspect about Christmas in accordance with each of the five senses.

Sight

Obviously, the most visible part of Christmas are the lights that blanket peoples’ yards during the month of December. My parents and I drive around our neighborhood every year looking at all of the lights. Our neighborhood gives awards out to different houses for “Most Religious,” “Best Christmas Theme,” “Best Community Participation” to the best cul-de-sac, etc. Every year my parents and I drive around picking our favorites throughout the month of December, and then drive around and see if they won the awards we wanted them to when the awards are posted. There is one house in my neighborhood that has a Santa Christmas countdown clock, and when I was little I would always say “Christmas Clock! Christmas Clock!” until my parents would drive by it before we went home. My parents have since become accustomed to driving through the neighborhood entrance that leads us past the clock. In addition to the neighborhood lights, there are Christmas Light Festivals that make even the hottest Texas Decembers feel like winter wonderlands. Christmas lights make Christmas beautiful, but they also provide families with traditions that last for generations, which is why they’re the best visual part of Christmas.

Smell

My absolute favorite day of the year is the day my family goes to pick out our Christmas trees. Subsequently, my least favorite day of the year is the day we have to take our Christmas tree down, and put it on the curb. I never understood why people were able to have fake Christmas trees. The best part of a Christmas tree is not the lights or the ornaments- both of which are absolutely beautiful- but it’s the smell that accompanies the tree. Yes, there are candles, and soaps, and other scented products that you can buy that smell like Christmas trees. However, none of those products smell as good as the actual thing.

Taste

As everyone knows, it is basically impossible to lose weight during the holiday season. You’re lucky if you’re able to maintain your current weight with all of the delicious treats that are everywhere during the holidays. There are Christmas cookies everywhere, delicious chocolates, hot chocolates, Starbucks drinks, cheesecakes, etc. etc. I could go on and on, but I should stop before I make myself hungry. The taste I look forward to every holiday season is that of the Peppermint Mocha from Starbucks. Whenever I walk into my local Starbucks, and I see the holiday drink sign up with the Peppermint Mocha in the middle, my day is instantly a thousand times better.

Touch

Another wonderful part of the holiday season is that everything is fuzzy and warm. When it gets below 70 degrees Fahrenheit here in the great state of Texas, we break out the flannels, sweaters, scarves, and fuzzy socks. There’s no better feeling in the world than the feeling of fuzzy socks. They’re just SO FLUFFY that I’m going to die!!! Some of my favorite memories are of the rare cold nights when my parents, my dogs, and I huddled around the fire decked out in sweaters, fuzzy socks, and soft blankets drinking hot chocolate or apple cider. I just really love fuzzy Christmas socks if you can’t tell.

Hearing

Last, but certainly not least, are the wonderful sounds of Christmas. If you’re anything like me, my favorite type of music is Christmas music, and I’m game to listen to Christmas music any time of year. However, I really get in the Christmas music spirit around Thanksgiving time. From Black Friday to New Year’s Eve, I’m either listening to Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas” or any of the Pentatonix Christmas albums. I can sing any of the five members of Pentatonix’s parts to every single one of their songs- not as well as them obviously, but I’ve had them memorized for so long that I could sing them in my sleep. Anyways, Christmas songs are the best and I love them. There is, however, one other really great sound that can be heard throughout the holiday season. So sorry, I’m gonna have to cheat on this one, and put two of my most favorite holiday sounds. The other most wonderful thing that you can hear around Christmas is the story of Jesus. Obviously, the whole reason for the Christmas season is Jesus, so naturally the gospel would be spread more so during Christmas time than any other time of the year. It is so wonderful to hear the story of the birth and the life of Jesus being spread throughout the holiday season, and to hear how people celebrate Jesus in their family’s own special way.

Basically, Christmas is my favorite time of the year for all of these five sensory reasons, but also for so many other reasons. I hope everyone has enjoyed the Christmas season so far, and continues to enjoy the last couple days of it.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays Y’all!