When school lets out on the 23^rd, something possesses me and all I want to do is watch Elf and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.

Even though I know Santa Claus does not exist, playing glorified house with my sisters during the Christmas season makes the Christmas spirit hit me, like other teenagers, full blast.

I started doubting the existence of the jolly fat man in red when I was about eight years old; I was rummaging around in the coat closet for my favorite gloves when I found, underneath a sheet, a pile of beautifully wrapped boxes stamped with “From Santa, to Alexa” stickers.

I had tried to tell my younger sister Vanessa about the horrific events and what I had discovered, but she did not believe me. My parents eventually sat me down and told me that I had to keep the spirit alive for my younger sisters. I went through the motions: I left milk and cookies for Santa and skipped down the steps Christmas morning.

Soon enough, I stopped being so depressed about Christmas and started celebrating it the way it is supposed to be celebrated; I surrounded myself with family and friends and enjoyed everyone’s company.

“I don’t have to keep the spirit alive because my sisters do that for me. They make the Christmas season exciting,” senior Cole Demcher said. “Faking it for my sisters is fun because it’s always nice to see how their faces light up on Christmas Eve.”

There is something about being with my sisters and actually getting along with them that makes me want to believe in Santa Claus. The Christmas spirit is powerful, and I am thankful I have younger sisters to keep it alive in my house.

I am pretty sure they know Santa is not real by now, but picking them up from the bus stop on the last half day of the year and realizing Christmas is so close turns the three of us into kindergarteners once again.

“It’s fun to believe in Santa again because after I found out, Christmas just wasn’t fun anymore,” junior Maddie Kohutka said.

In 24 hours, even the most depressed, irritable, pessimistic, sleep-deprived teenagers transform and become optimistic, innocent, honest children once again.

“I don’t find myself in the Christmas spirit until break starts. December is usually a stressful month, so the long break at the end is much appreciated,” junior Logan Spevak said.

Christmas brings out a whole new persona in teenagers that was buried underneath a hardened shell.

“My spirit changes around Christmas time,” freshman Kaitlin Brennan said. “It’s the time of year people are the most nice to each other.”