With Christmas approaching, brightly coloured lights, pricy products and festive music is popping up everywhere! You see it in the streets, the shops and even in restaurants but with all this stigma, it’s easy to forget that not everyone feels such joy around Christmas time.

I interviewed people of different ages to get their opinions on Christmas. While all did express their anticipation, some did mention that there are negatives when it comes to the holidays.

Maisie Fletcher, 15: “I’m really excited because Christmas is my favourite time of the year since I get to see my family.”  

Leslie Mathys, 25: “I’m looking forward to it. It’s good to spend time with family and have a break from work and stress.”

Caitlin Freiter, 14: “I am excited for the presents and the food. However, I’m not excited because socialising is something I struggle with. I get shy around my family which ends up in me being uncomfortable.”

Curt Mathys, 47: “I think that Christmas is a great time of year. I love the festive carols and the joyful spirit people have but it’s too commercialised. People tend to measure love by the value and price of presents. So, Christmas can be very costly.”

Furthermore, there are people in worse situations than you and I could ever imagine. Last year, the BBC published an article reporting on how 109,000 children were homeless during December. Can you fathom how many people, including adults and the elderly, must be feeling vulnerable and living rough at Christmas? These unlucky people bare the worst of the winter weather, fight the loneliness and most likely don’t even get to enjoy the gifts and food you and I do. It’s important that we stay aware of the less fortunate and try to help by aiding charities.

So, although there’s so much elation and delight around this time of year, there are some who just aren’t fond of being bombarded with pressure of buying presents, the social gatherings or just simply don’t get the festive experience most do. Doesn’t it get you thinking…is Christmas really so merry?

Wren Mathys, Langley Park School for Girls