The holidays bring cheer, love, and a spirit of giving to those around them, but everyone has a different tradition representing the holidays to them. The holiday months hold many meanings, from the festive, glowing lights spread throughout neighborhoods to a single act of giving.
December 1st is the day when kids start their Christmas and Hanukkah lists. Everyone is excited about their gift but needs to remember the importance of the holiday season. Share Our Selves, SOS, an organization based in Costa Mesa, CA, makes a difference in everyone’s holiday season as they spread the importance of giving back. This year marks the 55th anniversary of “Adopt A Family,” a tradition that brings holiday joy to the community. SOS’s Adopt A Family is when you pick a family from a list provided by SOS; each family member has a wishlist, and to make their Christmas memorable, you select one of their personalized gifts and wrap the gift to give to the SOS family of your choice. To Share Our Selves, the holidays are a time to give back. They make sure no family has to choose between providing for their family or giving their kids a Christmas filled with joy and happiness.
Just here in Laguna Beach, LBHS has an annual holiday toy drive in collaboration with the District Family Resource Center, promoting the importance of the holidays. You can donate any unwrapped toys for kids of all ages. LBHS shows the meaning of the holiday season by giving back to our community, with the toy drive spreading gratitude and a sense of community among the students. Students participating in the toy drive learn the real meaning of the holidays; through their actions, they brighten up a family’s holidays and understand the more profound appreciation for the act of giving back.
An LBHS freshman, Stella Samson, shares her love for the holiday season and their meaning. “The holidays are all about my loved ones coming together,” said Samson. During the eight days of Hanukkah, Samson celebrates with family and friends. All her loved ones come together to enjoy traditional latkes, matzo ball soup, and many other dishes. “The most important part about the holidays is giving; I love seeing my family’s face light up over the gifts we give and small acts of kindness throughout the holidays,” Samson says. Samson’s words display the true meaning of the holidays and her definition of the holiday season.
While the holidays entail a different definition for everyone, the true meaning is gratitude and surrounding yourself with loved ones. For some, gathering around the dining room table and enjoying a home-cooked meal is the meaning of the holidays. But for others, just one donation to their family makes the holiday season so unique. Your generosity can genuinely and sincerely affect a family’s holiday season. Coming together, spreading kindness and holiday cheer, and giving your time and love to the community make the holiday season unique and memorable.
