Every year, millions of children across the world write their letters to Santa Claus, with a long wish list. However, in the past decade, this tradition has changed drastically. Back in the 90s, it was common that children would ask for dolls, games, toys, anything like that. In more recent years, children have been asking for iPhones, iPads, or makeup, all at very young ages. The cause of this change is obvious; as times are changing, there are more technological advancements and influences over young kids through social media as opposed to earlier decades. Not only are wish lists changing, but many other traditions are dying out as well. While change is a good thing, I do not believe that letting traditions fade away is positive. Holiday traditions are important to many, and it is valuable to our society to keep these traditions alive. 

In the 90s and early 2000s, there was an abundance of Christmas carolers walking around singing for their neighbors. Now, it is very rare to hear of someone who goes caroling. An article from “The Chicago Tribune” writes on why they think that caroling has been dying out. “But outside churches and the occasional party, collective Christmas caroling has fallen casualty to the peculiarities and sensitivities of our age. Many schools, fearful of offending non-Christians, have axed carols from the activities. In urban neighborhoods where people don’t know their neighbors, assembling a caroling crew is harder than ever.” Whatever the reason, people are no longer enthused by caroling.

Sending letters to Santa is becoming extinct as well, as more young children and parents are becoming preoccupied during the busy holiday season.  North Pole, Alaska used to get many letters in the mail addressed to the North Pole, a Christmas tradition that was enjoyed. Then, as email came out, websites started emailing their letter to the Santa program, where kids could experience the joy of writing to Santa in a digital format. A positive would be that it is easier on both the parents and children, however, it is even more screen time, and is distinctly less special than it is in person. As of 2020, there are significantly fewer children writing letters to Santa, and are instead simply sending their parents a Christmas list.

 Stockings are becoming extinct as well, with fewer families hanging stockings and filling them with food and small goodies. Many people do not understand the reason for having stockings or the back story to it, hence they no longer have interest in hanging them. Stockings became popular during the time of Saint Nicholas, when he allegedly threw three bags of gold through an open window of a struggling family and it landed in a stocking, which was thought to be lucky. Every Christmas, families would hang stockings in hopes of having similar luck of getting goodies from Saint Nicholas. Housing decorations is becoming an issue as well, with fewer places to store decorations, less people have them, and oftentimes people do not have enough time to decorate for the holidays anyway. As time moves on, people are straying away from these sacred traditions.

 In the year 2020, while everyone has more time to enjoy the holiday season, it seems like a good time to bring back some of these traditions to give everyone a boost of holiday cheer, which is just what everyone needs right about now.