Has Christmas become too commercialised?
In days gone by children were happy with a clementine and some chocolate pennies in their stockings at Christmas.
Now they are bombarded with advertising messages on the television and online in the run up to Christmas, showing them toys and objects that they never even knew they ‘needed’. It is not unusual for children to be thumbing through gift catalogues as their bedtime reading or surfing online in search of possible gifts ideas!
Has the focus of Christmas shifted over the years from a wonderful time to spend with your family and friends, to an expensive present and gift event?
Has the meaning of Christmas gone forever? Is there too much focus on buying gifts and less emphasis on family values?
What are your views?
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Some years ago I decided to break the dreaded family tradition of one year your parents. one year mine, with the attendant table load of food enough to feed an army, and went to America to spend Christmas with the Grinch, visiting Disney for one day in a week long holiday. Christmas was all over and done with in 48 hours !
Now I live in Prague, and it is a completely different and nice celebration here. The shops do not start selling Xmas goodies until the start of December, Trees are not put up until Christmas Eve when they are decorated by the family, Xmas dinner occurs on our Xmas Eve with presents being opened then. All family members gather on the 24th evening for dinner, after a day of fasting.
And then, a couple of days later, it is all over and done with, the shops have sales and everyone is back to work after the new year.
I think you have to blame members of the public not the resellers for the over-commercialisation, if they did not go along with it, would the shops not soon change their theme ?
For a Kid to get a bike back then was a rare thing -in my case it was a second hand me down off my cousin- these Days it seems like Every day is Christmas day for Kids regarding their collection of various "Gottahaves",
Years ago I was at friends for Christmas. She'd made huge sacks out of single sheets - 2 for each of their 2 children, which had to be filled at Grandmas to bring home on Christmas Eve. The children just gorged on an 'unwrapping frenzy' in the morning with no gaps between each present.
Our Cousins were allowed to keep 3 of their toys each in the build up to Christmas, the remainder went to the local orphanage. The same thing happened each year.
We got the end-of-the-bed stocking and 1 main gift each or, as happened one year, a 'shared' gift of a tape recorder. We had the most wonderful day recording and playing back our messages.
Any recent suggestion to 'cull' toys before Christmas have fallen on very stony ground with friends who think their children's largely unused toys will be missed!!!
Reality check here.
I have asked for no gifts for the last ten years but was pressured by my Sister after our 'just one small gift' fell on deaf ears.
When I saw the mass of Christmas Bags just for me I felt so guilty that, after Church (NOW that's what it's all about!) I went to the cashpoint and added cash to the single gift I'd bought the three of them. Their gift from me, by the way, was a stunning tree bauble each - now that can be well used forever!
Bah Humbug? No.....just very sad at the over-commercialisation of this special time.
Finally, do folk accept/understand and appreciate my 5 years of no cards in lieu of a £100 donation to my chosen Charity each year? ABSOLUTELY - they love it! The Internet keeps us connected all year round doesn't it?
So, let's make the most of the true Spirit of Christmas and think about what we've done in the last 12 months and, maybe, how we could do more for others in the next.
Me - looking forward to being the 'Welcomer' at our 11pm Church Christmas Service and heralding in another year of hope, compassion and kindness.
A very Happy Christmas to you all.
Children would b better of with one main toy and their stocking full of bits and pieces, not toys and toys that never get played with.