It’s a cold Saturday morning in mid-December. Your entire family packs into a minivan and drives to the mall, eager to get some holiday shopping done. A lengthy line of children waits for their chance to tell Santa what they want this year while Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas Is You” plays. You look around, taking in the magic that only comes once a year. Nothing could ever ruin this perfect feeling: not even the family member who hates this time of year, not even the Grinch.

These horrendous people take their name from children’s book author and cartoonist, Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas. This book perfectly crafted a holiday story that educates children on the true magic of Christmas: love. It features the Grinch, who has a heart three sizes too small and can’t seem to find the true meaning of Christmas, so he attempts to ruin it for others. After successfully stealing every decoration, present, and tree in the nearby town, he hears the townsfolk gathering together and singing, even though Christmas has been stolen from him. This makes him realize that the holidays are about more than what’s under the tree. 

People who claim to be Grinches believe that Christmas is only about getting gifts. While the material world has swept up the precious 4 weeks of December we all love, there is something truly special about the other side of getting: giving. Spending time thinking and finding the perfect gift for a loved one makes you appreciate the people in your life so much more. Trying to balance what they like and their interests into a thoughtful gift and then getting to see their reaction perfectly sums up why the holidays are a special time. 

The other thing Grinches seem to miss about the holidays is family time. College students return home, grandparents visit and families can once again become complete. Each day is dedicated to family traditions and nothing gets in the way of it. This is what makes the holidays the holidays. 

Now, if you are still one of those annoying people who believe you should act like a Grinch every winter, I don’t know what to tell you. The Grinch learned about the true magic of Christmas by stealing it and realizing what he stole is exactly what Christmas is not about. Maybe try that? Actually, don’t, because that would be very annoying. Maybe just rewatch the Grinch because you obviously missed the entire point of the movie.