Christmas: Then vs. Now - By Liv Romano
Then: Picture this. December 23, 2013. The last day of school before Christmas break. You walk into your 4th-grade classroom in your pajamas because it's pajama day (of course). You sit next to your best friend, who's wearing a Santa hat. You guys talk about your Christmas lists and where your Elf on the Shelf hid that morning. Suddenly, your teacher interrupts you and handouts a Christmas coloring sheet with a Christmas word search on the back. After you finish, the teacher shuts off all of the lights and plays the Polar Express on the smartboard. She passes out Christmas cookies as you watch the movie. When the movie ends, the teacher announces that its time to play Christmas games and make crafts. As half of the class is playing pin the tail on the reindeer, the other half is decorating Christmas ornaments. When the end of the day reaches, your teacher wishes you a Merry Christmas and you walk out to the bus with your friends. Snow is lightly falling on you're way out of the school. Life is good.
Now: Okay, now picture this. December 21, 2018. The last day of school before Christmas break. You wake up at 5:45 and get dressed (not in pajamas), just like any other normal day. You get on the bus and try to squeeze in those last extra minutes of studying. Throughout the school day, you stress out about the 3 tests that you have and the insane amount of homework you're going to have over the break. Each class drags by as you wait and wait for that final bell to ring. No Christmas games, crafts, or movies.
As you can see, there is a major difference in how Christmas is celebrated in elementary school and high school. I miss the games we would play, the crafts we would make, the movies we would watch, and the food we would eat. I wish we acknowledged the holidays more in High School!


Now: Okay, now picture this. December 21, 2018. The last day of school before Christmas break. You wake up at 5:45 and get dressed (not in pajamas), just like any other normal day. You get on the bus and try to squeeze in those last extra minutes of studying. Throughout the school day, you stress out about the 3 tests that you have and the insane amount of homework you're going to have over the break. Each class drags by as you wait and wait for that final bell to ring. No Christmas games, crafts, or movies.
As you can see, there is a major difference in how Christmas is celebrated in elementary school and high school. I miss the games we would play, the crafts we would make, the movies we would watch, and the food we would eat. I wish we acknowledged the holidays more in High School!


Aw this makes me miss the holidays in Elementary school. Now school is filled with tests and quizzes before the holidays.
ReplyDeleteChristmas was so much fun when we were younger and I would get specific Christmas pajamas to wear the day before break to school and we would all sit on the floor to watch Christmas movies. I was that kid who brought in a blanket so wrap myself in. Those were the best times.
ReplyDeleteThis brought back so many memories from elementary school!! The class parties were my favorite thing ever and coming into class on a half day with snow falling outside and watching a movie was one of the best parts of my childhood. Now, waking up at 5:45 and stressing about all the tests I have makes me realize how much I took for granted in elementary school. I would do anything to go back!
ReplyDeleteCrazy how much things have changed! Wish things would go back to the fun days.
ReplyDeleteThis is sad to read. I wish we could bring back some of the magic for you guys.
ReplyDeleteIt's crazy to think about how in elementary schools we would celebrate the days before breaks and do nothing before we had a week off to do nothing! Now in high school, I feel like we try to get in as much learning as possible before we go on break, and then a lot of the times we have work to do for over the break. I wish that in high school we could be a little more relaxed before a break like winter break instead of having to learn a lot!
ReplyDelete