Well, it’s that time of year again. It’s time for peppermint-flavored coffee served in red coffee cups decorated with ornaments and reindeer.

It’s time for the radio stations to switch from playing the same Katy Perry and Lorde songs and start playing multiple versions of “Baby, It’s Cold Outside” and “Winter Wonderland.” That’s right. It’s Christmas season, and it’s amazing.

Christmas season is without a doubt one of the best times of the year. The trees, the garland, the tinsel and the ornaments are beautiful and all the Christmas carols are just fantastic.

The world lights up for a few months, and it’s a great celebration. Whether you’re a child or an adult, nothing beats the smell of pine needles, ham or roast beef, and warm cookies in the winter.

To many, Christmas is about observing and celebrating the birth of Jesus. And many people know the story and go to church and observe it in this manner. Regardless of how often one goes throughout the year, Christmas service is always warm and welcoming. Hearing the choir sing “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” in their big, boisterous manner is exhilarating.

My favorite church tradition, though, is singing “Silent Night.” Not only is “Silent Night” my absolute favorite Christmas song ever, but the way that my church does it is unbelievable. My family attends the candlelight vigil services and we always light the candles right before we sing “Silent Night.”

The lights are dimmed, the music starts, and it’s just a very beautiful arrangement. I’ve been doing it for years, but it still makes me smile as though I were seeing it for the first time. It always makes my dad and me a little emotional.

But Christmas isn’t all about the religion, either. In a secular sense, it’s quite nice as well. Christmas might be celebrated because of the birth of Jesus, but it’s also about the other things you get to do on Christmas as well.

It’s about taking a moment out of the busy lives we all lead to sit down with our families and really enjoy each other’s presence. It’s a chance to reflect on how

great the year has been so
far and to begin thinking about how great the year to come will be. Christmas gives us the opportunity to really appreciate all the great opportunities we have in life and appreciate how fortunate we are to have what we have in our lives.

One of the best things about Christmas is that it never changes. Sure, we get older. And naturally, everyone’s stage in life changes. But Christmas never does. No matter how old one gets, one is always happy to watch “Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town” when it comes on television.

“A Charlie Brown Christmas” will always make us happy. But most importantly, there will never be a time    when opening your eyes on Christmas morning isn’t one of the best and most exciting feelings in the world.

Christmas is the ever-present, always-reliable day of the year on which it’s really impossible to feel sad. And that’s what makes it so amazing

Christmas really is the most wonderful time of the year, so be sure to embrace and enjoy it as much as possible.