Has Christmas become too commercialised?

After descending on our retail calendar as if out of nowhere, Black Friday has now firmly wedged itself in and it looks like it’s here to stay.

While there is discounting at many stores, shoppers are only really saving money if they buy items they would have bought anyway. But the concept of Black Friday is designed to create impulse buying. Shoppers are told ‘when it’s gone, it’s gone’ – and there are even countdowns on sale items which helps add to the frenzied feel.

Has the meaning of Christmas gone forever?  Is there too much focus on buying gifts and less emphasis on family values?