Cornell Claritas: A Journal of Christmas Thought
A space for Claritas contributors to write freely on the subject of Christmas
Anjelina Gonzalez, Social Media Manager
Favorite Christmas Movie: While You Were Sleeping
Dear Santa (Reader?),
It has recently come to my attention that most people grow out of believing in Santa by the time they reach seven to nine years. I, however, did not. As the second to last of five children, my mother was always eager to keep the childhood traditions alive for as long as possible. I repeat: FOR AS LONG AS POSSIBLE. For how long, you may ask? Well, you heard it here first: I was fourteen years old when a youth group sermon informed me that Santa did not, in fact, exist. How could this be? Wasn't Santa Claus an angel of the Lord, something of the likes of Gabriel? The truth is, they are not at all related (ouch). Needless to say, I rethought all of my life choices that week. Santa, you will never fool me again. On the bright side, I am thankful to know that I did not murder my Elf on the Shelf that one time I picked her up in fourth grade, for she was never alive in the first place. At least the Easter Bunny still exists. Right?
Katherine Becking, Contributor
Favorite Christmas memory: Candles in windows
One December when I was in middle school, I rushed past our Christmas tree on my way out the door and realized that I had been too busy to properly anticipate Christmas that year. The next day, I sat down on the steps and just gazed at the tree for a while, waiting. For me, waiting for Christmas is in itself a joyful activity. Most other times of waiting are full of either dread or drudgery. I just want the semester to be over so I can go home! But with Christmas, I am happy to let the Advent season take its time. In fact, if Advent doesn’t drag on long enough, I feel robbed, and Christmas doesn’t feel as climactic. I need time to enjoy the red ribbons and gingerbread cookies and front yard light displays, gradually building up excitement for the real event on the 25th. It is a waiting full of contentment. I wish I could have that kind of gleeful anticipation for my ultimate future hope. I want to wait for heaven like I wait for Christmas.
Matt Pang, Blog Editor
Favorite Christmas Movie: Die Hard
Lately, I've been struggling to understand the story of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. There's so much about this beloved holiday myth that profoundly befuddles me. Firstly, how does Rudolph’s nose emit light? Is it hereditary? Do his ancestors share the same condition? Or did a group of evil elves with malicious intent conduct scientific experiments when he was just a young calf? Something else that deeply puzzles me is why a reindeer with a colorful nose was necessary in the first place. As far as I know, Santa Claus possesses an incredibly efficient workforce composed of majestic little elves capable of engineering any toy imaginable. Are you telling me that Santa's elves were able to make me a high-tech Blu-Ray DVD of Kung Fu Panda 2, yet somehow lacked the ability to build LED lights for Santa's sleigh? Lastly, I assume that Mr. Claus had been delivering toys to well-behaved children for hundreds of years before the birth of Rudolph. Did he not encounter one single foggy night prior to Rudolph's birth? Or was this particular case of fog unprecedentedly thick (possibly caused by global warming), thus requiring the infrared nose of such a mystical reindeer? I need answers.
Despite losing countless hours of sleep over my Rudolph-related existential crisis, I nevertheless believe that Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer is a wildly entertaining film that delivers a heartwarming anti-bullying message to the audience.