Christmas to commercialized
By chulce
@chulce (1537)
United States
December 18, 2009 12:15pm CST
Over the years I have watched how the holidays have changed is some aspect. Today as I sit staring at my little Christmas tree I began to think about all the commercials on the television and how early the stores started to decorate for the Christmas season. Many stores have begun decorating before Halloween where as others have even gone earlier than that. I understand the need to keep our economy going, but come on, where is the true meaning behind all of this.
Even looking beyond the religion behind the holiday season. It is about the coming together of family and friends, sharing new memories, being together when other times of the year prevent us from it. It is about the upcoming new year and what is ahead for each of us. It is about hope, love, understanding. This time of year is the time when we think of our new adventures, what we want to change, what we want to do.
I can remember living in Germany as a child and walking down the shopping centers. The stores began to decorate about a week before the Holiday season, music started to play about this time, chestnuts were being roasted, small wagons started to pop up with their wares. This was what I loved about the country, the fact that they waited. The fact that they didn't over commercialized the holiday season.
Have you ever wondered what happened?
4 people like this
6 responses
@dmrone (746)
• United States
18 Dec 09
Hi, chulce! Yes, i think Christmas has been way to over commercialized. I really don't think it has anything to do with the economy either. It seems people have just forgotten what this season is all about. Now everything is all about presents, and gifts, and who can get what and from whom. It is a very saddening thing. I have gotten to where i really do not like going into any store the closer it gets to Christmas, because there seems to be no Christmas season anymore. The stores where i live had Christmas decorations up before halloween was even here. I have tried to instill in my children that this season is not about gifts, it is about family, and Christ. Merry Christmas!
2 people like this
@chulce (1537)
• United States
19 Dec 09
Thanks for your comments I appreciate it. You know a friend of mine at work made a good point. When Jesus was born he was given only 3 gifts. She says that is all she ever gives to each of her children, to represent what was given to the baby upon his birth. She said, it keeps them humble and helps them to remember the true meaning. She also stated she sets an amount to spend and never goes over it. She says each child receives gifts under 50 a year. I commend her for doing this. Things have gotten so expensive, its not even funny.
1 person likes this
@dmrone (746)
• United States
19 Dec 09
Yes, chulce, i commend her also. I have a grandson who lives with me and two other grandchildren who live close by and i want them to know the real meaning of Christmas. It is hard because they see how others react to the Christmas holidays, and they want the gifts like other children their ages. I try to make it a point to read the story of Christmas to my children and grandchildren on Christmas eve, and we always talk about it. I can remember my grandmother telling us as children that she was lucky to get a homemade quilt, there just wasn't money to go spend on pricey gifts that after the day is over the gifts are tore up or thrown to a corner and forgotten.
@benny128 (3615)
•
18 Dec 09
yeah xmas is defo over commercialised buts that the same as easter, halloween etc etc
though we are all to blame for the commercialisation of xmas how many of us have xmas decs up or a xmas tree,
how many of us buy cards to send to family and friends, and how many of us spend and spend and spend on material gifts when it should be about time not money.
Thats why shops set-up earlier to get the money out of our bank accounts,
2 people like this
@chulce (1537)
• United States
19 Dec 09
benny,
You make a good point. We do add to it. But, are we as well purchasing earlier? Or does it just seem that way.
Personally, I will admit, I actually start my next year shopping the day after Christmas. I try and purchase all the gifts etc. That way I can get a better deal. However, there is always that little something that does pop up.
I mean really, half the sales that are going on aren't really sales when you look at it. I actually went to a store one time to do sort of research. This was about a month before Thanksgiving. I priced a really nice sweater that I knew would probably be around for the period of time. Sure enough I came back about a week before thanksgiving the price was jacked up by about 40 percent. When I returned the week of thanksgiving, the price was right back where it was the month prior. What are these companies thinking.
I feel sad for the many of us that fall victim to this sham.
@rogue13xmen13 (14403)
• United States
18 Dec 09
Yes, Christmas is far too commercialized, and I say this because before Thanksgiving has even begun, people are getting ready for Christmas and there are commercials everywhere for Christmas. I love the holiday, but it begins earlier and earlier each year.
@chulce (1537)
• United States
19 Dec 09
Thanks for your comment. I appreciate it. Sorry I didn't respond sooner, I had an office event to go to. Which I must admit was a ton of fun.
I wish that these companies would just let the holidays be where they are suppose to be and not try and push it as hard as they are, it is such a huge pain in the butt.
@Hatley (163776)
• Garden Grove, California
18 Dec 09
hi chulce one word answer to this greed. they just cannot wait to sell,sell, sell. not one of these people are thinking ot the CHrist in Christmas only of how much profit they feel they must
make. I too used to love it when it all started just the first of December and the shopping and fruits dropping by, carolers coming bye. gifts mailed and recieved, it was fun as it was not done early when nobody was thinking of Christmas or e
ven yet thanksgiving.
ven yet thanksgiving.@chulce (1537)
• United States
19 Dec 09
You hit the nail right on the head! Greed. That is the big word and soo very true.
I used to go all out decorating our home for the holidays, then wondered why I should support the commercial side of the Holiday so much. In the past 2 years I have cut back a great deal. I don't put lights out on my home. I hang a couple of wreaths that I made out, we have a small tree that we are growing in a pot for our Christmas tree. The stockings are hung and a few other small decorations are hanging up to add the warmth of the season to our home.
A few friends of ours saw this and are now following our lead. They couldn't believe how much they were doing and for what....
@Fulltank (2882)
• Philippines
19 Dec 09
Not only did it commercialized but exploited as well. People took this as an advantage to earn more money in business. As people tends to be more generous during these days, people took advantage of it. Good for you that you have experienced a solemn Christmas season, but its unfortunate for many of us who does not experienced such one.
@chulce (1537)
• United States
19 Dec 09
You are so right about the exploiting of the holiday. I worry about all the different charities that are legitimate that are out there to help families, etc. There are many though that are not true charities. No one does the research and end up supporting someone that is exploiting this part of our world.
@chulce (1537)
• United States
19 Dec 09
I think it is wonderful that you work to understand other religions of family and friends. It is a great way to be a more well rounded person. It also helps with keeping the stresses down for everyone. Of course this is only one person's opinion. I think if each of us had a better understanding of all religions and cultures this would be a better world for everyone to live in.
