Christmas means trying new recipes, buying gifts, hopping onto Christmas plays and concerts, and essentially going all-out creative about decorating the Christmas tree. The "most wonderful time of the year," as they say, sees the most unique holiday traditions being perpetuated and people savoring the spirit of the season.

While we like to be home with our loved ones during Christmas, there are many professions that require people to report at work for the sake of our safety.

Blue Christmas, which is celebrated on Dec. 21, is a holiday dedicated to those to whom holidays are just another day at work. Blue Christmas gives people a sense of gratitude toward those emergency professionals such as doctors, nurses and 911 dispatchers, who work tirelessly during the holiday season.

Why celebrate Blue Christmas:

Blue Christmas is celebrated as a way to thank the professionals in the country who brave cold snow, emotional trauma from an emergency situation, potential dangers such as active shooters, to make our celebrations worthwhile. On Blue Christmas Day, citizens are urged to display a blue light on the porch or place blue candles on the window in honor of the police, dispatchers, firefighters, emergency personnel, doctors and other hospital staff.

Here are some beautiful quotes that have been said by the emergency responders. (Courtesy: Goodreads.com)

  • "Burnout occurs when an individual has experienced prolonged demands, chronic stress, fatigue, a lack of support, and a decrease satisfaction in what they are doing."- Asa Don Brown
  • "Answer the urgent call. Help when tragedy strikes. And do it for free."- Isabella Koldras
  • "First responders are notorious for being reserved about their emotions and emotional wellbeing."- Asa Don Brown
  • "Honor to the soldier and sailor everywhere, who bravely bears his country’s cause. Honor, also, to the citizen who cares for his brother in the field and serves; as he best can, the same cause."- Abraham Lincoln
  • "Real heroes don’t wear capes. Real superheroes wear uniforms and badges and stethoscopes! Real superheroes are members of our military, law enforcement, and first responders. Pretend superheroes wear capes!"- Dean Cain
  • "First responders will be on the frontlines if there is a terrorist attack in our communities, and we must provide them with the tools they need to do their difficult jobs"- Ed Markey
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Representation. Pixabay