Is Christmas Overly Commercialized?

By Brittany Weaver| Cartoon By Taylor Chapman

What does Christmas mean anymore when people focus more on shopping than on family? Are children looking forward more to the presents than the quality time with their own mother and father?

These are a few of the many questions asked by people around this time of year. Over the years, all the fall months have become a marketing complex for every department store across the U.S. This culminates in December, yet it started months earlier.

The month is July, and in one department store a single ribbon hangs around the registers announcing the arrival of Christmas ornaments. The aisles show signs of green, red and gold. Ribbons and garland hang for sale. A Texas summer gets cooled off by the sight of Christmas greenery just awaitingthe eager early shopper.

Fast forward back to present time. Now December is blanketed in sales, trees, and colors that businesses use to induce the feeling of warm Christmas cheer. Lights are hung from every place available shining on shoppers’ faces. Malls are filled with children holding on to their mothers’ hands for dear life as they swerve in and out of the shopping masses.

Normally, a place in the building is saved for a special guest in a red coat, glasses, and a long white beard. Kids line up by the thousands just to sit on this stranger’s lap and get a picture taken. Each child is hoping that they get what they ask for.

This guest’s face is plastered on everything from Coca Cola cans to store front windows. There was once a time when this figure head was more of a help to the children than a help to the economy. He was a Christian Saint named Saint Nicholas who gave his wealth to children who really needed it. Yet today it’s totally different.

Families save up more money for this holiday than any others. Children whine about things they want and parents worry about how they are going to be able to afford everything. According to the American Research Group,the average person spends $658 during the holiday season. Since the economic downfall happened, gradually the amount of spending has declined. Stores don’t seem to enjoy that. Sale signs are a common sight now a days, as stores try their hardest to get consumers to buy their products.

Times are hard in the thought of money but the capability of love is still out there. Grab it by the hand and let it help you fly, just like the reindeer leading Santa’s sleigh. Enjoy the holidays with family and loved ones; don’t worry about the money or the chance of getting the best new toy. Young, old, it doesn’t matter: Christmas is a time for giving not getting, for being with family and loved ones. Enjoy the time with one another because each day could be your last.

What do you think? Are people’s priorities misplaced? Leave us a comment below.

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