Christmas: then vs. now
Could anything be more magical than being a child at Christmas? Trying your hardest to stay awake for as long as possible on Christmas Eve, straining your ears in the hopes of hearing reindeer on the roof and sleigh bells in the sky, knowing that Santa would be sliding down your chimney (probably with great difficulty after all those mince pies!).
Fast forward a few years: Santa’s gone and so is all of your money. Christmas now means something entirely different…
THEN: Your biggest source of festive stress at school was aching to be Mary or Joseph in the Nativity, while the teachers thought that your true calling was being the back end of a donkey.
[Image unavailable - this media was lost during migration]
Image: Tumblr
NOW: As deadlines pile up in the week before the holidays and as soon as Lent Term starts, you’d give anything to go back to those simpler days.
[Image unavailable - this media was lost during migration]
Image: Tumblr
THEN: You trekked around a garden centre to find the biggest and most perfect tree. It was close to Christmas when you decorated it.
[Image unavailable - this media was lost during migration]
Image: Giphy
NOW: You treat yourself to a tiny £2.99 pop-up tree from Home Bargains. You put it up halfway through November, using “I won’t be in Lancaster for most of December” as your excuse.
[Image unavailable - this media was lost during migration]
Image: Tumblr
THEN: You couldn’t wait to get off your face on fizzy drinks and bust your finest moves to S Club 7 and Busted at the school Christmas disco.
[Image unavailable - this media was lost during migration]
Image: WiffleGif
NOW: You can’t wait to get off your face on 3 for 1 vodka and bust your finest moves to S Club 7 and Busted at Hustle.
[Image unavailable - this media was lost during migration]
Image: WiffleGif
THEN: You wished it could be Christmas every day.
[Image unavailable - this media was lost during migration]
Image: Giphy
NOW: Your bank account will certainly be glad to see the back of the festive season.
[Image unavailable - this media was lost during migration]
Image: WiffleGif
THEN: You watched The Grinch and thought he was a miserable git who needed to liven up.
[Image unavailable - this media was lost during migration]
Image: Giphy
NOW: You watch The Grinch and he’s basically just a slightly greener version of you.
[Image unavailable - this media was lost during migration]
Image: Giphy
THEN: You visited your extended family. They ruffled your hair, pinched your cheek and cooed over how much taller you were. You sulked, but secretly enjoyed the attention.
[Image unavailable - this media was lost during migration]
Image: Interfaces
NOW: You visit your extended family. They interrogate you about your career plans or when you’re going to “bring someone nice home”. You battle the urge to cry, with varying degrees of success.
[Image unavailable - this media was lost during migration]
Image: Tumblr
THEN: You eat so much food that you can’t move.
[Image unavailable - this media was lost during migration]
Image: Giphy
NOW: You eat so much food that you can’t move.
[Image unavailable - this media was lost during migration]
Image: Tumblr
THEN: You were too excited to sleep on Christmas Eve.
[Image unavailable - this media was lost during migration]
Image: Tumblr
NOW: You’re too excited to sleep on Christmas Eve.
[Image unavailable - this media was lost during migration]
Image: Tumblr
THEN: You ran into your parents’ room as soon as the sun came up on Christmas Day, and wouldn’t stop bouncing on their bed until they let you go downstairs and open presents.
[Image unavailable - this media was lost during migration]
Image: WeHeartIt
NOW: Your parents have to actually wake you up on Christmas Day. It’s the earliest you’ve been up all year.
[Image unavailable - this media was lost during migration]
Image: Giphy
THEN: On Christmas morning, you’d see a room full of presents and delightedly squeal “HE’S BEEN!!!”
[Image unavailable - this media was lost during migration]
Image: Tumblr
NOW: Opening presents makes you feel like an excited kid all over again, but after many long weeks at uni, being back with your family is the best gift of all.
[Image unavailable - this media was lost during migration]
Image: Giphy
What do you think? Does Christmas become less enjoyable with age? Are there some things that never change? Write a comment and let us know!
This article was written by Rachel Scowcroft.
Note: This post was migrated from the old SCAN website. Some formatting or media may not display correctly.