Remember how magical this time of year seemed when you were little?

From the wonder of a jolly old elf who would bring you that toy that you wanted so badly to the delightful scents of cinnamon and sugar as Mom or Grandma baked those traditional cookies that always tasted the same year after year, there was a special kind of magic in the air each and every December.

There were catalogs to thumb through and lists of wishes to make. There were letters to write and mail off to the North Pole.

For my family, everything turned blue and sliver and sparkling once the holiday decorations came out. At other people’s homes, I could wonder at the multi-colored lights and red, gold and green ribbons and bows everywhere.

Some of my friends strung popcorn to adorn their trees, while my family obsessed over hanging silvery icicles one by one to ensure the finished tree would look just so.

There were special holiday dishes and candies that we didn’t eat at any other time of the year. My mother made the most delicious, creamy chocolate fudge, and her mother made a sugary sweet, yet oddly light and colorful treat she called “divinity.”

Then there was the music. My parents favored old-time artists such as Nat King Cole, but I also knew the holiday tunes belted out by Alvin and the Chipmunks by heart. And that doesn’t count the traditional holiday hymns and carols that were heard at church and in stores and just about everywhere you went.

I’m not sure that things seemed quite so magical to the adults around me — perhaps they were all working hard just to create that special atmosphere for the little ones. But I, for one, miss that feeling and would like for all of us to find ways to get it back.

The hustle and bustle and obligation of finding all the right gifts for all of our special people can be overwhelming. It can drain some of the joy out of giving those things that we hope will make others’ hearts sing. Too often, adults worry so much about whether the meal they are preparing will turn out perfectly that they don’t get to sit and savor the flavors that they have waited all year long to taste.

While my mom fashioned decorations out of old Alka-Seltzer bottles and tinsel as a way to help make ends meet and save a little extra to buy toys, the need to find the perfect theme for our holiday household decor these days replaces the joy of creating something special on your own.

I’m not saying that we shouldn’t put some effort into making special occasions like the holidays really special — I’m just wondering if we haven’t largely forgotten how to actually do that.

Maybe I’m reminiscing this way because I have already watched one of my holiday favorites this year — Dr. Seuss’ “How the Grinch Stole Christmas.”

We all know the tale of how the grouchy old Grinch hated all the traditional holiday celebrations of the Whos down in Whoville, far below his mountain lair. He and his faithful dog. Max, set out to steal everything that brings the Whos joy on Christmas morning. But, even though he succeeds in his evil deed, the Whos greet the morning with wonder and joy.

This led the Grinch to ponder: “Maybe Christmas doesn’t come from a store. Maybe Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more.”

Keep that in mind while you are making your holiday plans and preparations this year.