It’s wintertime and the smell of peppermint permeates through the cold. The taste of gingerbread waits ready in the oven. Dazzling lights flicker for people to view as they adorn the objects they sit on. Laughter fills the air as children chatter on. And everyone thinks about what they want, whether it’s for making a New Year’s resolution, or filling out a wish list.

But the season isn’t just about receiving, it’s also a time for giving. This year, Student Council hosted a fundraiser and asked Advisory classes to collect toys for children who have been removed from their homes by Child Protective Services. Abused and neglected children are relocated by caseworkers all the time and sometimes, the children leave with nothing but the clothes on their backs. The holiday season and gifts tend to be forgotten in the lives of these children. So, Canyon Vista participated in Partnerships for Children’s 10th annual Holiday Wishes program to help children in Central Texas who are going through these hardships.

People wish for things all the time, and although the chances of them happening might be small, when a wish is answered, it is usually answered when miracles and magic happen, in other words, the winter holidays.

Even with so many different cultural holidays and traditions being celebrated during this time of year, one thing ties them all together: the spirit of the season.

“To me, it is a time of joy and uniting people together,” remarked 8th grader Emily L.

Mrs. Fritch commented, “I believe it’s about giving and charity, and love and family.”

Many people believe in magic and miracles, and 8th grader Apoorva C. is one of them. “The holidays are a time to be happy,” she said. “I think magic and the spirit of holiday go hand in hand because there are ‘Christmas miracles.’”

Mr. Fletcher believes that there are still some mysteries in life but he doesn’t know if he would categorize them as magic. But he thinks the hope of magic is renewed with the holidays.

No matter where you are, if it is wintertime, you can be sure that there are going to be people who are helpful and generous, who share the warmth of their homes or the food on their plates. There are going to be people who help by giving to the homeless or buying presents and clothes for the poor; there are going to be people who are accommodating and supportive of you; there are going to be people who are charitable and neighborly to you. And you can be that person for someone else.