Why I Celebrate Two Christmases—and Why You Might Want To, Too
The most wonderful time of the year. Even for entrepreneurs.
For years, I bragged about "hustling through the holidays." The “no days off” mentality. Looking back, it was all bull. Because if there's one time of year that reminds me why I do all this crazy entrepreneurial work, it's Christmas. Actually, two Christmases—my Venezuelan one at midnight and my American one the next morning.
Double the Christmas, Double the Memories
My family and I were born and raised in Venezuela, so our real celebration happens on Christmas Eve. Our entire family gathers together around 8 pm. We eat Venezuelan Christmas dinner consisting of hallacas, pernil, and my famous mac and cheese. At midnight, one of the dads dresses up as Santa Claus and hands out presents to the kids (yes, really). Then the real party starts. My family sings and dances past 3 am. We catch a few hours of sleep; soon after, the sun rises, and it's time for our American Christmas. A fresh pot of coffee, gift-giving around the tree, and a calmer pace for the day. Two different Christmases in less than twenty-four hours. The best of both worlds.
But it's not just the food or the presents that make this my favorite time of year. As a busy business owner, Christmas hits three big themes for me: (1) family, (2) gratitude, and (3) reflection.
Family
Family is unique because they are one of the few people who don't care about your quarterly projections or how many sales you closed. Christmas is one of the few times a year we can all be under one roof, making a mess in the kitchen, catching up, and feeling like kids again.
Family members are often our biggest critics and can drive us insane—but they love us unconditionally. They were there in 2007 when we had nothing under the tree. They were there when my parents lost their home and business. And now, when life is more stable, we get to share that success with each other. Christmas reminds me that no matter how many customers I impress or how many deals I close, the people who truly have my back are my family.
Gratitude
Some say the gift-giving side of Christmas is shallow. Perhaps it is. We've all seen that one kid who made a big deal because they got shoes that fit too small (I am guilty). But for me, each gift symbolizes how far my family and I have come. I remember that first Christmas in the U.S. with a bare tree and no money for gifts. Or that year when I asked for "nothing" and actually got "nothing" because that's all we could afford.
Fast-forward to now: we've built successful companies and can finally splurge on things we used to dream about—designer bags, new shoes, or even a car. Sure, material things don't give lasting happiness. But on Christmas, they represent the hard work, sacrifices, and relentlessness our family put in to get here. It's a moment to step back and be grateful for the fruits of our labor.
Reflection
Every year, I see people flaunting that they're working on Christmas. I used to be one of them. In fact, I did a bit of work on Christmas Eve and Christmas this year. However, As I've gotten older, I've realized that Christmas is a great time to be creative and recharge the mind. The whole fallacy that working on Christmas will make you more successful is complete bullshit virtue signaling. Everyone needs time to slow down, even for only half a day. If you don't do it, you burn out, or you reach your goal and find that you're still unfulfilled. When I take a little time off during Christmas, I return rejuvenated, replenished, and with plenty of ideas and motivation. I don't have to worry about being up before everyone else and race to the gym. I can take my time to get up and go on a run. Walk, let my thoughts run a while, and spend time pondering. I can go home and play on my computer, with half of my screen running Claude 3.5 or GPT 4o and the other half running with an open notepad or code editor. I can let myself experiment with new thoughts and ideas. Things that I didn't have or take the time to think about all year long. The rest of the year is fast-paced and full of problems. Christmas is an excellent slowdown period to prepare for it.
How This Might Change Your Perspective
If you're a fellow business owner or just someone always racing against the clock, consider letting yourself enjoy Christmas. Shut the laptop for a bit, embrace the awkward family moments, and appreciate the tangible and intangible gifts. Remind yourself why you started your venture in the first place: to give yourself and your loved ones a better life.