Finding Christmas Spirit

Looking for Christmas spirit in all the shopping and stress can be a daunting experience. Maybe overcoming the Grinch is a matter of looking for the experiences of the holidays over the mad dash to spend.

Golda Hukic-Markosian

December 4, 2023

As I write this, the first snowfall of the season has covered the valley like a coat of fresh paint, hiding the flaws, cracks, and stains, and making a good impression.

Yes, it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas. But oh, how I dislike Christmas!

Although the snow is beautiful, I despise the cold! A whole month of Christmas music could drive me crazy, and if I have to watch It’s a Wonderful Life for the 25th time, I may go over the edge. But most of all, I hate the obligatory shopping! A lot of people feel this way.

It is so hard to shop for adults. After all, what do you buy for people who have everything?

And then there are the kids, with their large, unrealistic lists, when most of the time they should get coal in their Christmas stockings.

Right now I really can sympathize with the Grinch.

But you probably didn’t expect a co-publisher of Utah Stories to tell you about her contempt for one of the most profitable holidays of the year.

Actually, what I dislike most is the materialistic aspect of this holiday — this giant annual money-sucking festival. The glut of rampant consumerism is appalling at a time in history when we should be conserving resources and recycling to protect our planet. Most of what the Amazon, FedEx and UPS trucks are hauling to our doorsteps will inevitably end up in a landfill. Meanwhile, war is raging in other parts of the world, and some of our fellow human beings don’t have enough food.

However, I do like Christmas as a reason for giving — a season of giving thoughtful presents and celebrating with family and friends by breaking bread together. Helping fellow humans in need. Keeping our children accountable and not spoiling them with bags full of presents they actually don’t deserve.

During December Utah Stories will highlight some of our local shops where you can buy gifts for those you love, while supporting the local economy.

Amanda Rock talks about local bakers with their special pastries that will make this Christmas season even cozier. Amiee Maxwell breaks down the frustrating construction in Sugar House. Rachel Fixsen shows travelers what to expect by visiting Moab in winter. Richard Markosian examines the lack of personal accountability in our public schools, and Francia Benson talks to Utahns with ties to Israel and Palestine and gives them a voice to share their experiences.

We hope you make the most of this holiday season, and that you can create joy and merriment with family and friends.

Merry Christmas and happy reading!

Feature image illustration by Chris Bodily.

Go Local, Holidays

Golda Hukic-Markosian

A physicist turned into a local magazine publisher with a passion to make the world a better place through sharing the stories of ordinary people and businesses overcoming hardships and succeeding.

Go Local

Utah Craft Whiskey: How Barrels and Utah’s Climate Shape Flavor

Utah’s craft whiskey scene is shaped by more than grain, yeast, and time. The state’s dry climate plays an unusually powerful role in how spirits age, intensifying the relationship between whiskey and the barrels that hold it.

Low humidity accelerates evaporation during aging, often claiming 14–18 percent of a barrel’s contents as the “angel’s share.” Unlike more humid regions where alcohol evaporates faster, Utah barrels tend to lose more water, concentrating flavor and driving proof upward over time. That accelerated interaction pulls sugars, tannins, and spice from the wood more quickly, creating whiskeys that often taste older and more structured than their age statements suggest.

To understand how Utah distillers are deliberately harnessing climate, char, and finishing barrels to shape flavor, two producers at the forefront of that experimentation — Sugar House Distillery and Spirits of the Wasatch — shared how barrel choices influence everything from sweetness and spice to texture and proof.

*The remainder of this article is available to Utah Stories subscribers and includes in-depth reporting from Utah distillers on barrel selection, aging techniques, and experimental finishes.

To access this post, you must purchase Utah Stories (Digital + Print) or 3 month free trial (Digital).
Community Relations

Are Tech Giants Becoming Our New Overlords?

As tech corporations grow larger than nations, their influence over our habits, beliefs, and daily lives only intensifies. This piece examines how corporate power shapes our choices—and why supporting local businesses may be the last real safeguard of personal autonomy.
Best of Utah

A Guide to Unique Local Shops Across Utah

From Park City to Moab and every town in between, Utah’s most distinctive local shops offer character, creativity, and a strong sense of place. Our contributors share the bookstores, cafés, boutiques, and hidden gems they return to again and again.
Holidays

The Real Story of Thanksgiving in Utah

Utah’s Thanksgiving traditions trace back to pioneer proclamations, early desert harvests, and a unique blend of faith, survival, and community. From Brigham Young’s 1851 declaration to the rise of Dixie Salad, this is the story behind Utah’s version of the holiday.