December 25 is over and the race is on. Who can throw their tree out the fastest, who can take down the lights before the night of the 26th, and my personal favorite, who can get the Christmas songs out of their head the fastest?

There have always been two sides to Christmas in my family. The secular view and the religious view. The idea of Santa and presents is always paired with the birth of Jesus. Christmas Eve mass would be followed by my brothers and I tearing through wrapping paper in the morning. Regardless of which version of Christmas you celebrate, it surprises me how quick we are to tear down all of the hard work we put into making the holidays unique.

If you ask me, the 25^th of December does not mark the end of Christmas, but the beginning. In the Church, Christmas is celebrated until January 9^th when Jesus was baptized. This is a time filled with celebration and an opportunity to grow closer to your family and your faith. In the secular world, the 25^th does mark the end of Christmas, but does it really have to? How can all of our attitudes change so quickly? Shouldn’t we always act as though Santa is watching?

Our generosity and overall seemingly better mood leading up to Christmas day does not need to end once the presents are unwrapped. The lights should be left up to illuminate the long nights of winter. The tree should remain watered to keep something green and living in the house in a time where there is so much is dead and brown during the colder months. Just because Easter decorations have already found their way into stores does not mean we must buy into consumerism. Let the Christmas music play just a little longer and remember that the spirit of Christmas never needs to end.