The True Meaning of Holiday Magic

“It’s Christmas Eve!” said ten-year-old Maria Roger cheerfully. 

All her siblings shouted in excitement. Christmas was their favorite holiday of the year. Two weeks away from school?! What a deal! But not just that. They get to open gifts and enjoy time with family. 

The Roger family thought it would be a good idea to host a skiing party with friends and relatives. Around twenty people arrived at the spot where the party started, Hansan Ski Main. After they had gotten all bundled up with sweaters and put on their skis, everyone was off in different directions on different trails, thinking, “Oh, everything will be fine. Just meet up here in a couple of hours at the base.” They all had fun, and the air was filled with laughter and shouting. The Roger family went North, where the somewhat most challenging and sketchiest trail in the forest was. They all had years of training and wanted to give this trail a try. In the blink of an eye, they rushed towards the steep hill and, without the slightest hesitation, flew down, going as fast as a cheetah. 

Maria felt like she was soaring through the sky and had all the power in the world. “Wow! This is beyond fun! Best thing ever!!” she shouted.  

The rest of the family agreed. They all glided down the path, having the time of their life. Once they got to the bottom, Maria dared her parents to continue on another trail that looked appealing to her. Without hesitation, the entire family dashed down. They were so joyous and loved the venture. Their smiles vanished after reaching the endpoint, where they saw a sign, the end of them. NO WAY BACK TO HANSAN SKI MAIN. NEXT SHELTER, 3 MILES NORTHWEST. 

“Oh no, no, no!!!” exclaimed the children. “What have we done?! What are we going to do?!” We have no hope!” they cried out. “ We can’t ski three whole miles without a lift!!”

Maria was frustrated deep down for a while. But knowing that she was the oldest, she had to set the example. So, she made the decision to continue on relentlessly. 

Turning to her younger siblings, Jonathan and Sarah, she said, “Hey guys! We’re going to keep on walking but don’t worry. There’s going to be a big Christmas dinner and a warm fireplace waiting for you, okay? Now let’s go.”

Determined to reach the shelter, they all took a deep breath, and from there, they began the journey. This part of the trail was extremely windy, so everyone was freezing soon! The cold drafts blew against their faces, and shivers ran down their spines. Legs were shaking, teeth were chattering, and bodies were trembling with frigidness. Against their wish, they had to keep on going in order to get to the shelter before the day leaves and night falls. Although the mere 3 miles seemed like 30 miles to them, the thoughts of a roof over their heads kept them moving, fortunately. Trudging through the thick whiteness, there were hundreds of questions on Maria’s mind. Where were the rest of the groups? Have they already gotten back to Hansan Ski Main? If so, have they realized that we’re missing? Thoughts of freezing to death struck her. If I die, it better not be because of this. No, think positively, Maria. You got this. Oh, why did I do this? Her body was becoming stiffer and stiffer by the second, and her mind started to become foggy. Her legs just continued pushing through the heavy snow, not knowing to listen to the mind or to make its own decision. Her brain, having less and less energy to function, still had the same contradicting words repeated. Stop. Take a break. No! Keep on going! You’re almost there! Ah! I don’t know what to think! 

Weird sounds circled around her. Was it her imagination? The crunching of leaves and crushing of twigs scared her even though her family were the only ones there. Because the darkness drew in, there could be wild animals like wolves and bears. Owls stared down upon her and her family curiously without them knowing. And when she finally finds out, it would be because of their hoo-Hoo-hoo hoo. A strong gust of wind interrupted her thinking. On the other hand, it reminded her of how hungry and cold she was. Not knowing what might occur, Maria and her family continued their journey for about another treacherous hour. At times when the kids began to feel exhausted, Mr. and Mrs. Roger motivated and supported them. Once again, Maria stepped up as the big sister and told her younger siblings that there was nothing to be afraid of and that everything was going to be fine. Their wish was granted. There, right in front of them, was the hut (shelter). 

“Oh, thank god we’re out of the cold tonight!!!” screamed everyone. 

They all happily and swiftly ran inside and unloaded their things. Finally, lying down on the soft beds, they were all filled with joy. There was a landline, and they called their family and friends, who were surely very worried about them. The warm fireplace was on, and as promised, delicious Christmas food was set on the table. They began eating as quickly as Garfield gulping down a lasagna. Thankfully, there were also maps that could guide them back to Hansan Ski Main. 

“Woohoo! Jackpot!” said Mrs. Roger, holding up one of the maps. “This is great. We’ll spend the night here, and tomorrow morning, at the crack of dawn, we’ll follow the trail on the map to reach Hansan Ski Main. But for now, it’s relaxation and gratefulness.”

After feeding themselves up to the brim, the Roger family fell asleep, dreaming about their unbelievable day. Maria dreamed about walking through the clammy forest and meeting Santa. Oh, how wonderful! She got to open her Christmas present, a compass, which brought up her spirits and gave her the confidence to navigate to the shelter and get back on track.  The next morning, they woke up at 6 a.m., well-rested. After putting on their coats and sweaters and packing up their skis, they started their trip. Feeling more confident with the daylight and a clear path ahead, the Roger family followed the trail on the map back to Hansan Ski Main. Although the walk from the evening before was treacherous, today, they felt energetic and enjoyed the scenery of the snow.

Before walking for what felt like a mere twenty minutes, they were getting closer and closer to Hansan Ski Main. As they approached the familiar surroundings of the ski main, relief came over them. The other groups had apparently spent the night nearby, and they were woken up, ready to welcome the Roger family to celebrate Christmas together. 

The adventure that had started as a joyous celebration took an unexpected turn, leading them into the depths of a snowy forest. Yet, through their determination, teamwork, and holiday magic, the daring family found their way back, safe and sound. The Roger family learned a valuable lesson about the importance of careful planning and staying within the designated trails. Despite the tough challenges, the holiday magic of survival and togetherness turned what could have been a disastrous Christmas Eve into a memorable tale of resilience and gratitude. And so, with appreciation for warmth, family, and the spirit of the season, they continued their festive celebrations at Hansan Ski Main, cherishing the holiday magic that had saved their Christmas.