Diya Anand is a fourth-year Bachelor of Commerce student at the University of Toronto, specializing in Management with a focus on Finance and Data Science. With experience as an intern at Deloitte Canada and KPMG India, she has honed her analytical and advisory skills in financial modelling and financial accounting. A passionate volunteer, Diya has contributed to community upliftment through organizations like Sewa Bharti and the University of St. Michael’s College Campus Ministry. She is an aspiring CFA and enjoys reading, photography, and golf in her free time.
Growing up in the bustling, colourful streets of New Delhi, India, Christmas has always held a unique place in my heart, even though it wasn’t one of the traditional festivals of my Hindu home. The magic of Christmas—the lights, the cozy gatherings, the sense of goodwill that seems to float through the air—captured me from an early age. Every December, there was something enchanting about how the end of the year became not just a time for looking back, but a fresh start for everything yet to come.
In New Delhi, December brings a distinct chill, though nothing like the snow-covered Christmases I’ve seen in movies. Yet, we’d put up decorations and string lights just the same. A few years ago, my family decided to get a Christmas tree—a real one. Even though India’s climate isn’t exactly tree-friendly year round, we made it a point to nurture and care for our little tree, finding ways to keep it alive well beyond Christmas. That tree became a symbol of resilience, growth, and nurturing—qualities that, for me, reflect the spirit of Christmas itself.
To me, Christmas is more than just a festive day. It’s a time that brings with it a promise of fresh starts and renewal. The end of the year can sometimes be filled with exhaustion or regrets about things left undone, but Christmas is like a gentle reminder to pause and look forward with hope. There’s a sense that the year’s challenges can be put to rest, and a clean slate awaits. No matter what may have happened, Christmas arrives like a warm embrace, bringing a quiet assurance that good times lie ahead.
Despite the winter blues and shorter days, Christmas has this incredible way of brightening everything around it. Somehow, even the cold air feels softer, the streets seem cozier, and each twinkling light seems to whisper stories of joy. There’s a beautiful simplicity in the holiday season that draws people closer, filling homes and hearts with a glow that lingers. Christmas has always been a reminder for me that life has seasons, and while winter may bring its chill, spring is never far behind.
Growing up in a Hindu household, celebrating Christmas was initially something that might have seemed unusual. Yet, my family embraced it fully, seeing in it an opportunity to experience the beauty of another culture’s traditions. It became a beloved part of our family’s winter ritual, a season that, though different from our own festivals, carried the same essence of warmth and togetherness.
For me, Christmas holds a unique joy because it’s a celebration that belongs to everyone. Even if it isn’t rooted in my personal cultural background, it resonates with a universal message: that joy and kindness, love and warmth, are gifts that transcend boundaries. Christmas is a time to be part of something bigger, to connect with others in a shared sense of goodwill. In a world often marked by divisions, Christmas feels like a gentle reminder that, at our core, we’re not so different from one another.
Each Christmas, as my family and I gather around our little tree, I’m reminded of the power of looking forward. That small tree, which we’ve tended to so carefully, has grown a bit each year, becoming a symbol of all the fresh starts we look forward to. It reminds me that just as the tree perseveres and blooms despite the odds, we too can grow, adapt, and find our way.
For me, Christmas is a time to set aside the worries and regrets of the past and look to the new year with optimism. It’s a gift of hope and a fresh beginning, something I cherish deeply. Despite whatever challenges may lie ahead, Christmas reminds us that there is light in every season.
As I look forward to another Christmas this year, I feel the same excitement I did as a child. I know that, just like every Christmas before, this one will bring its own quiet magic—a time for family, for reflection, and for the joy of new beginnings. In the twinkling lights of our tree, I see not just the end of a year, but the promise of everything yet to come.
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