There is nothing like the sight of colorful twinkling lights, the smell of gingerbread cookies or the warmth a person feels on Christmas morning when the whole family is gathered around a tree that is adorned with ornaments.

Christmas is a time for loving, giving and togetherness. Sure, there are people out there who are only in it for the presents, but the idea and the spirit of the holiday are positive things. For centuries, Christmas has been a holiday that arose from the idea of families and friends coming together and giving gifts to show their love for one another.

But the holiday is not only about gift giving. Almost every corner a person turns during Christmas, there is a person wearing a Santa hat, ringing a bell and standing next to a charity box.

That person is there to help those in need. Christmas is not just a holiday when people worry about what presents to buy, what parties to go to or the size of their bonuses. Some are actually out there to help the homeless, provide gifts for children in orphanages and feed low-income families.

After all, the true spirit of Christmas is giving and we continue to give, year after year. Some may say that gift giving is superficial or competitive to see who gives the bigger, better gift, but it’s not.

People spend hundreds of dollars on gifts; they put in time and effort, love and thought into what they give. This is a positive thing. There is nothing like the look of joy and excitement in the eyes of a person receiving a present. The message is to give and to share with others.

It is so heartwarming to see neighborhoods all over the country decorated with beautiful lights and lawns adorned with reindeer and snowmen. Those people are not forced to decorate their homes, they do it because it makes them happy.

It’s a Scrooge attitude to think that Christmas is all about over-commercialized gifts and companies competing to make the most money. Sure, companies do make a lot of money during Christmas. But that’s a good thing for the economy. They provide people with what they need and the companies get money in return.

People depend on this holiday to make money. It is the easiest time of year to find a job, which could possibly lead to a full-time position for someone who really needs it. Even in this situation, Christmas is the holiday of giving. But in the heart of hearts, this holiday is designed to bring people together.

There is no other time of the year when people fly across the country to be with their families. No other time of year when kids and parents go to pick out the perfect tree, and no other time do people sit around and worship an ancient man, whose sole purpose was to give to others.

No matter how old, a person will always remember his past Christmases, and not only the years he received a cool gift and not about the last minute shopping trips to the crowded malls. He will remember the year that he made ornaments out of popsicle sticks or the time he made gingerbread cookies and peanut brittle with his friends.

It puts a smile on people’s faces when they watch the electronic Santa Claus sway his hips from side to side, not to mention the long line of eager children standing in line to take a picture with the big man himself.

As long as people are happy, Christmas is fine just the way it is.