Christmas Without Commercialization - possible?

@levite (1062)
Philippines
December 17, 2009 2:52am CST
Sadly today, Christmas is very much commercialized. Many forget the true meaning of this celebration called Christmas. (Anyway, I'm not here to debate about the origin of this holiday). I just want to know if Christians can celebrate Christmas without exchange gifts, Christmas tree, lights, Santa Claus, etc. Instead of the commercialization aspect of this holiday, why not focus on the Man whom this occasion is attributed to. "There were group of Christians who wanted to have exchange gift on Christmas day. They began to discuss with each other about the amount of the gift. But they could not agree on the amount because one said that some members cheated with the amount of the gift. So, their leader intervened and suggested that instead of conducting "exchange gift" they would still buy gifts but for the "homeless children" in the shelter house that they knew. So they arranged for it until the day they visited the shelter house. They were greeted happily by different types of children: abused, deformed, and mentally handicapped. The faces of the children were all hungry for love. They sang, danced and entertained the children well. Until the day they left but the children won't let them go. They all wept but they had to go. The head of the homeless shelter told them it's the first time that they were visited and entertained by Christians. They all went home changed by the event." Now this is a true story.
1 person likes this
2 responses
@shellback (864)
• Philippines
17 Dec 09
Actually, gifts and a lot of stuff that are being commercialized during Christmas are truly nonsense, for us Christians, everyday is Christmas day because the true meaning of Christmas is Jesus, love God with all your heart, mind and soul, also love your neighbor as your self that's it, stuff are design only to help others, by showing your sympathy to the poor and needy.
@levite (1062)
• Philippines
17 Dec 09
I share the same view with you regarding Christmas that everyday can be Christmas day if Christ is in our hearts. Sadly Christ is being left out and the commercial aspect of this day is emphasized. Santa Claus is being put on the pedestal, what a deception
• Philippines
17 Dec 09
You have a point, most people do that, they make santa clause as the star of the day,but there's still having a family that Christ is the center of all and Im one of them. We cant junk commercialization, people need that, its a part of business and sad to say that we cant control that because the tycoon have their money to manipulate everything..its so sad.
@levite (1062)
• Philippines
18 Dec 09
Yes you're right. Commercialization of "Christmas" cannot be stopped since some businessmen used the opportunity to gain more profit and I don't blame them. It is just many so-called Christians today think they cannot do away with these stuffs and it adds to their frustrations when they receive no gift on Christmas whereas others receive much gift while the real "birthday celebrant" (if that date is really His birthday) was being left out on this day yet they call themselves Christians.
• United States
17 Dec 09
Yes. I do not celebrate Christmas in the way most people do. I was raised celebrating Christmas with gifts, family get togethers, worrying about sending cards and how much to spend on who, and if someone didn't show up it was simply rude. Yet I was also raised Catholic...my whole family was made up of Christians. It didn't take long to realize the way we celebrated wasn't very Christian. I celebrate Christmas by taking a silent day of rest. Sending a prayer up above of thanks and to say that I recognize it's a day for celebrating Jesus's birth. Despite my family having their own opinions about why, I do not go to family get togethers and exchange presents because it always makes me lose sight of the true meaning of Christmas. I'll still stop over and spend time with my family--and my husband still celebrates Christmas with his side by his choice--but to do this on Christmas would be to cater of everyone else's opinions of what Christmas means. If it were my choice I'd spend time with the entire family on Christmas...maybe with Christmas lights but not gifts, cards, worrying about obligations...and we'd talk about things we're thankful for and how Jesus made everything possible. What it truly means to be a Christian. And we'd spend time together. However, the commercialization of holidays has made them impure...less special. Until that changes I'll be celebrating Christmas alone.
• United States
17 Dec 09
If you think about the whole manger thing, though, it makes sense. Sure, people expect gods and people of royalty not to be born in a manger but somewhere extravagant. If you try to link Jesus and extravagance, it doesn't work. He was a humble man, always dining with the poor and sick, lived amongst the not-so-wealthy, etc. In a way, I think Jesus was born in a manger to signify what He really stands for. It's not the rich, necessarily, who make the best Christians...who try the most at being good. If Jesus were to be born in a palace I don't think most of us could even compare ourselves to Him to try to live like Him...after all, who here was born in a palace? Thank you for your comment. I just think society has lost out on this one...even for the non-Christians, who is to say that Christmas is strictly commercial? That Christmas means Santa, reindeer, and going into debt while worrying how much isn't rude to spend on someone? Even growing up in a Christian household my parents taught me about Santa...after realizing he wasn't real, I wondered...why teach me that? Not only are you directly lying to me but instead of teaching me the true reason behind Christmas, what to truly look forward to, you give me some story about a big guy that has nothing better to do than break into people's houses to give their kids expensive presents? And as a Christian, isn't that a little sad? To ignore Jesus's coming and put light on a person who focuses on materialism...something that isn't highlighted so beautifully in the Bible? Here I go on a rant. Thanks again for the comment. It's good to hear someone else does understand where I'm coming from. It's so sad how blown out of proportion this whole Christmas thing is.
@levite (1062)
• Philippines
18 Dec 09
Thanks you too for that. Before I also joined my relatives when they celebrated this season. We had this Christmas tree, lights and all these christmas decors including the one we call "parol" in our country -- a decor in the shape of a star. We have family reunion but Jesus is never mentioned on this day although they know about it, in the mass. But He is very, very seldom talked about. That's why I became sad and from then on, I no longer joined them celebrating this occasion. Anyway I see their joys and laughters are just on the "surface." I just thank the Lord that this day arrives; what I'm really grateful is that aside from He was born to save us, that salvation became so personal for me and made an impact when I came to know and accept Christ as my Lord and Savior in my heart -- this means more to me and Christmas has become not only a one-time event but an everyday experience since making Him as my Lord and Savior.
1 person likes this
@levite (1062)
• Philippines
17 Dec 09
Actually if we will just look back into the original Christmas day, its' very simple. Jesus was born in the manger (a very unusual place the Son of God could be born but He chose it). Shepherds and wise men were His guests (very unusual indeed instead of wealthy Jewish officials, kings, and prominent people). Good for you, you are celebrating it the right and simple way. Some people make life complicated for them. Celebrating Christmas with simplicity can help us avoid the stress accompanied by the false commercialization aspect of this day.
1 person likes this