With winter break approaching, the “holiday spirit” can be felt booming all around.

But what exactly is the holiday spirit? Is it just Santa Clause hats and peppermint coffee?

As it turns out, the holiday spirit means a wide variety of things depending on who is asked.

Freshman Gianna Lippi said, “I think the holiday spirit means to have fun with your family members, especially those who you do not see that often. Every year we have two parties, one on Christmas Eve and one on Christmas.”

To others the holiday spirit is about a lot more than just fun. For English teacher Cynthia Faupusa, December is a time to be grateful for all that she has. She said, “I recognize that things could be a lot worse than they are now. This is the time of year when we have to acknowledge the good things in life and be thankful for them.”

English teacher Kristen Fewins said, “I agree that the holiday spirit is about being grateful, but I also think it is about helping those who are not as fortunate as we are.”

Fewins’ ideology is, indeed, not a rare one in America. A study done in 2012 by Guide Star, the world’s largest source of information on nonprofit organizations, concluded that around 250 of 500 charities said they received the majority of their donations from October to December.

Faupusa and Fewins are not the only people that find a deeper meaning in winter than just colorful lights, presents, and parties. To some, the month of December is closely tied to religion, especially as Christmas is a traditionally Christian holiday.

Freshman Kelly Doherty said, “To me, the holiday spirit is not just about being grateful. It’s also about going to church. I just think that it’s very touching how so many people get together to celebrate a holiday that’s all about loving each other and being happy.”

Still, despite the ideological differences between the students and the teachers, there is an important pattern that all of them brought up — family.

But why is family so important, especially when it comes to the holiday spirit?

Faupusa said, “My family is the center of my life and heart. Everything I do is for them, and therefore the holidays are just a time to be truly grateful for having them.”

For sophomore Isabel Harnett, the holidays would simply not be the same without her family by her side. “My family has made me who I am today, and there would be something missing during the holidays without them; it would be very lonely,” she said.

Whatever the case may be, it is clear that many people view the holiday spirit and the holidays as important parts of their lives. In some cases that is due to deep, personal beliefs and feelings stemming from religion or a desire to help the less fortunate, but in others it is simply a matter of having fun and enjoying time with one’s family.

Lippi said, “The holidays are overall just a time for people to come together and be happy.”