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My Christmas Holiday

"I don't need Santa Claus to come to town - I just wish my family could get together."

Listen to this Commentary!

By Ricky Zhang

While most people spend December invading the malls and sending out a fury of greeting cards, my holiday season is a little different. A few days before Christmas, my parents walk up to me and drop some cash in my hands. "Here's your money, Ricky, Merry Christmas!"

My parents aren't really around for the holidays. My dad is a waiter in a restaurant - he has to work because Christmas is one of the busiest days of the year. My Mom is a seamstress. She has a short day, but she still goes to work - since her paycheck beats any gift from Santa.

I've never really gotten the opportunity to enjoy the winter holidays. Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Christ. But my family is Chinese Buddhist. So Christmas isn't exactly their cup of tea. It's like any other day for me. I wake up and my parents are at work. The only Christmas stockings I see are my dad's dirty socks wrapped around his shoes.

When it comes to our house - Christmas trees - those can stay on the lot. Garlands - they can hang somewhere else. Decorations - Wal-mart can keep those. In some ways I actually enjoy the fact that our house looks the same all year round. No decorations means, I don't have to clean.

I don't miss the stereotypical Christmas celebration. What I do wish for is some time off for my parents so that we can have some family togetherness. I just want US to meet up in the living room and have a family conversation. As it is, Chinese New Year to be the only holiday when our family gets together. After all, I'm growing up, I'm a senior in high school now, and soon I'll leave home. I want a reason to celebrate when I return home for the holidays.

When it's nighttime and the lights are on in the neighborhood, I see the silhouette of other families talking by their fireplaces. I don't need Santa Claus to come to town - I just wish my family could get together.


- This commentary was produced by Youth Radio, in association with National Geographic.