The Melanc-holly of Christmas

Every year, I dream of a white Christmas — just like the ones I used to know.

Though I’ve awoken to snow-covered Christmases in recent years, the endless expanse of white seems to glow blue. 

But is the reflective shine of snow just my personal gloom, or is Christmas no longer the most wonderful time of year?

For many, it never was.

As the weather starts to change and festive music overtakes the radio, the often unnoticed melancholic anecdotes woven into Christmas classics embed themselves in the yuletide zeitgeist. 

Since its release in 1942, Bing Crosby’s single “White Christmas” has solidified its status as a holiday staple, ranking 13th on Billboard’s Holiday 100 as of Nov. 20. Yet its poignant lyrics — rooted in writer Irving Berlin’s grief over the death of his three-week-old son, according to NPR — often go unheard.

Berlin isn’t alone in his Christmas blues.

When first performed by actress Judy Garland in 1944, the somber lyrics of “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” were so bleak Garland refused to sing them, fearing it would alienate audiences rather than inspire holiday cheer, according to NPR.

Despite being written decades ago, these songs remain a plaintive reminder of the complex emotions which accompany the holiday season are perhaps another reason Christmas no longer feels like it did in childhood.

Christmas is rooted in tradition, and with tradition comes an inevitable connection to the past. Perhaps our priorities have shifted and Christmas remains unchanged — or maybe nostalgia turns the present bitter.

Sleepless nights awaiting Santa Claus have become easy to get through, and shoddy classroom parties with cheap pizza are now nothing but rich memories of simpler times.

While comforting, reflecting on customs of Christmases past highlights the passage of time, stirring up nostalgia that can make the holiday season feel as melancholic as it is merry, according to the American Psychology Association.

It’s not that the meaning of Christmas has been lost, but that the weight of time has transformed it — ruining what could be a joyous season, now overshadowed by the longing for what once was.

A blue Christmas can simply be an environmental issue for some individuals, separate from the nostalgic pining.

On the first Sunday of November, most Americans travel an hour back in time, signaling the end of daylight saving time.

In late fall and winter, the absence of sunlight can disrupt the body’s internal clock, contributing to seasonal affective disorder, known colloquially as seasonal depression — affecting 10 million Americans for 40% of the year, according to the American Psychiatry Association.

The untimely clock change can ultimately exacerbate despondency, adding an additional challenge for those struggling to navigate the holiday season. Though this is a decidedly pressing reason behind the sadness of Christmas, it remains only one piece in a larger puzzle.

But Christmas doesn’t have to be perfect to be meaningful.

While the festive tunes and snowy landscape of Christmas evoke reminders of simpler times, they also highlight a bittersweet truth — Christmas has never been the idyllic holiday it’s portrayed to be.

In recognizing the duality of Christmastime emotions, we can begin to embrace what the season truly stands for. Acknowledging the layers of nostalgia, loss and change doesn’t diminish the magic of the holiday — rather, it allows us to find new meaning and connections.