Has the meaning of Christmas been swallowed in commercialism?

Australia
December 21, 2008 6:25am CST
Hi all, With only a few days left until the 25th December, Christmas Day, stores are increasing their bids to try and get you to do last minute shopping with them - whether it be to get that Christmas present for a family member you just remembered, or to get the final touches to make your Christmas Meal perfect, they're all fighting for your attention. To me, Christmas is more about spending quality time with family and remembering the reason for the season - the birth of Jesus - then about making sure the decorations, settings and food is perfect, or that I have bought that 'perfect' gift for that hard-to-buy someone, but this doesn't stop the different stores trying to tell you you need something extra to make that one day of the year perfect. Whether or not you believe in Jesus, Christmas is a special time for millions of people around the world. Is it losing that special touch that comes with things not being perfect, but family just enjoying each other, and instead being replaced with an all-consuming, unquenchable "MUST HAVE" hunger which robs people of the peace and joy of Christmas and instead replaces it with worry, panic, stress, shopping-rage(when one is unable to get what they want, or because of the extra long cues), and an exhaustion that says "I can't wait 'til it's over!". Why do we do this to overselves? What would happen if we spent one Christmas NOT worrying about presents, just making a basic meal that is shared by all, and resort to using the day to just enjoy the company of those who mean the most to us?
1 response
@ParaTed2k (22940)
• Sheboygan, Wisconsin
21 Dec 08
Only if you want it to be.