Christmas, Greed and Consumerism

Firstly, it is not that I dislike Christmas.  I dislike the exaggerated build up to a day which rarely lives up to expectations.

Secondly, Christmas is no longer centred on a traditional Christian celebration.  It is focused on consumerism.

Every year, without most of us realising, Christmas starts earlier and earlier.  This year it started in October.  Shopping centres and adverts entice us to become festive once again and join in with the Christmas spirit.  But what is Christmas spirit?

It is a mindset cleverly created by marketing over the last two decades.  Companies can now advertise their products and spread messages about how Christmas isn’t about the presents at the same time (the Littlewoods advert last year is a prime example).

The Christmas lights, the repetitively cheery music, photos with Santa, Santa’s Grotto and sales in most stores are all part of the Christmas spirit; intended to attract many customers and encourage them to buy more than ever before.

Christmas is supposed to be a token of gesture, idealised by the Three Wise Men at the birth of Christ.  They gave what they could and its value did not matter.  It was the gesture which carried a value.  Perhaps we can all learn something from this, even if we are not religious?

But for those of us stuck in our ways, why don’t we just rename Christmas Day ‘Consumer Day’?  At least then we could be more honest.  We could stop pretending that we are celebrating the birth of a religious deity who died on the cross 2000 years ago and start celebrating Christmas for what it truly is:  The most sacred holiday of the Capitalist religion.

However, I respect that some people are very religious, and they still celebrate Christmas for its true origins.

All I am simply suggesting is that we stop for a minute and look at out greed.  The euphoria is short-lived and then it is all over.  Until next year.