Attention

The opinions expressed by columnists are their own and do not represent our advertisers

Thursday, December 20, 2018

Is It Okay That Christmas Is All About Materialism?

Today the “holiday season” lasts longer than ever

How would you feel about Christmas if there were absolutely no gifts at all?

That may sound like a very strange question, but I think that it is a very important one, because the truth is that our biggest holiday of the year by far is all about materialism. According to ABC News, the average American will shell out $700 for Christmas presents in 2018, and the National Retail Federation is projecting that total Christmas spending will surpass $465,000,000,000. Only 25 countries on the entire planet have a GDP that is greater than that number. Ultimately, Christmas is defined by what we give and what we get, but is that actually healthy?

When I was growing up, my siblings and I couldn’t wait for Christmas to arrive, and honestly it was all about the presents. We spent endless hours looking over the toy catalogs, we made long lists of stuff that we wanted, and we impatiently counted down the days as we waited for the 25th to arrive.

More

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

It used to be like this when I had a good job with good pay, but because of the Trade deals started in the Nineties, I no longer have a good paying job, it's just a meal with relatives and we try to remember about the good old days before those great paying jobs were taken away to China, Mexico, and India!

We tell our children to let them know what they have lost and how they have been screwed by our government. Unfortunately this generation doesn't realize just how much has been taken away from them.

They are kept happy with their smart phones and gadgets while living at home with us, because they too, cannot afford any decent housing and of course student loan payments that will strap them for many years to come in place of a mortgage on a home. They are also delaying marriage and family because of this.

Anonymous said...

My Christmas is no longer defined by presents. Like the author, I couldn't wait for Christmas to see the presents when I was a kid, but my opinion changed as an adult. Now I know the holiday is about Jesus. Spent very little on presents. Instead, have spent a lot of time with family and in bible study. To me, Christmas is about Christ.

Anonymous said...

When I was a pup, Christmas gifts were limited to one from the Santa list and some little stuff in the stocking hung with care. I still have the Eldon hook and ladder truck that I got in 1958, and the Ted Williams autograph Wilson baseball glove from about 1960. They were both gifts with memorable giving moments.

Anonymous said...

No; It is not healthy. As a matter of fact if Jesus had been twins they'd have broke the whole World. Thus is born unto man the Christmas 'nuts' who through indiscriminate spending puts their families to stupid risk for the sake of making a big showing. Yes, lets pull out all the stops and be in debt until next Christmas so we can do it all again.
Do any of you know the real Christmas story and if so why is God not included in the details these days? Churches are dying for lack of patronage.
Wow, how are you going to answer when you die?

Anonymous said...

Why not, you're all fake Christian's anyway. You only believe in the parts of the bible that are convenient for you

Anonymous said...

Dave T: No. But it certainly is a good, accurate reflection of society today, and that is not intended as a compliment.