More Than Merry: Finding Meaning in the Holidays

It’s easy to forget that the word “holiday” comes from the phrase “holy day.” But take a moment with me — let’s sit with that. What does it actually mean for a day to be “holy”? At its core, holy means “set apart” for a special purpose. It’s a day meant to be different, distinct from the rest. If we approached the holidays as true holy days, how might that change how we experience them? If these days were set aside with a unique purpose in mind — and we made that purpose our focus — how might that shift the way we celebrate?

Here’s what I mean. For Christians like myself, Christmas is a celebration of the incarnation of Jesus Christ — God becoming man and dwelling among us so that we might be saved through Him. That’s the heart of the holiday. But let’s be honest — that focus can get buried under a mountain of shopping lists, travel plans, and general chaos. How would it change my heart and my experience of Christmas if I consciously held onto that reality? Through the presents, the parties, the food, and the noise, what if I made a deliberate effort to center it all around that one purpose? My guess is I’d be more present, more grateful, and maybe even a little more at peace.

But let’s say you’re not someone who holds to the Christian meaning of Christmas. Maybe you’re approaching it from a secular point of view. Well, even then, the concept of a “holy day” still matters. What are you setting the day apart for? If it’s about family, connection, or togetherness (as many of our holiday movies tell us), how might a focused approach to those ideas change your experience? Would you slow down? Would you be more present with loved ones? Maybe you’d put your phone away for the day or set aside the distractions. I’m willing to bet that a day centered on connection and togetherness would feel more intentional — and maybe even more memorable.

That’s really the heart of what I’m getting at. The holidays should be more. More than the marketing machine, more than the pressure to buy, more than the endless stream of "stuff." What if we reclaimed the holy in our holidays? What if we made them truly set apart and special? I think we'd reach the new year feeling renewed, not depleted. We’d look forward to these days not just for the break, but for the meaning they bring. We might even find ourselves longing for them more than we already do.