Countering the commercialization of Christmas

Christmas is the time of gift giving and waiting for Santa to arrive late at night. But is it? In the recent years there is no doubt that Christmas has become way more commercialized than it should be. People have lost the true meaning of December 25th and focus more on the materialistic aspects of the holiday.

Christmas is a time when stores are jam packed full of shoppers and parents are out trying to buy gifts for “Santa” to put under the tree. Things like putting up the tree and gift giving are all great family activities and a great way to express your feelings for loved ones. Although, this time can also be very hard for others.

Senior Kyle Peterson states, “I agree that the true meaning of Christmas has been lost to things like gift giving and spending. People need to focus on the fact that it is a Christian holiday and meant to celebrate Jesus”.

Some families do not have the money to buy as many gifts as others, the holidays can be a very expensive time for some. In the past few decades Christmas has strayed away from traditional ways.

Many students come to school on the first of the year with brand new everything, making other students feel less which puts a lot of stress on parents. Other small things like Christmas lights and reindeer are all cute and fun for the children but again take away from the true meaning of the 25th of December.

Senior Will McGhee states, “Each year my family exchanges gifts with each other for the holidays. We also go to church for Christmas mass and watch a nativity play each year to keep the religious aspect of the holiday alive”.

Continuing this further, many schools and churches do still try and promote the religious aspect of Christmas. Almost all schools teach the story of Christmas and the large majority of schools put on nativity plays so children can understand the holiday through drama and carols. Christians are still going to church to celebrate Christmas religiously and they will continue to encourage their children to do the same, so the real meaning can be carried on throughout the generations.

The true meaning could easily be less spending based and more focused on the religious significance. This Christmas make sure to step back and look at what you are truly focusing your holiday spirit on.