The Commercialization of Christmas
“Santa, baby, just slip a sable under the tree for me, been an awful good girl, Santa, baby, so hurry down the chimney tonight. Santa, baby, a 54 convertible, too, light blue. I’ll wait up for you, dear, Santa, baby, so hurry down the chimney tonight” (Joan Javits and Philip Springer).
Not the most appropriate Christmas ballad if you’re looking for the real reason to celebrate Christmas; however, it is catchy, a little sensual, and a shining example of just how commercialized Christmas has become.
1965, the year saw the deaths of Malcom X and Winston Churchill, Montreal defeated Chicago for the Stanley Cup, and the cost of a first class stamp was five cents. Even more, the world was introduced to a premier that would go down in history for decades; A Charlie Brown Christmas. Throughout the special, Charlie Brown is fighting a war against the commercialization of Christmas among his fellow peers.
Imagine the outrage the general public would feel about Christmas in the 21st century if they felt Christmas was over commercialized back then.
Nowadays we see Christmas commercials advertising cars and other big ticket presents for sale. Who buys someone a car as a Christmas present? And, more importantly, when did we start divulging from the true meaning of Christmas? Clearly the idea was there 50 years ago, but the consumerism ideals of Christmas are growing worse and worse. Listening to a radio station yesterday introduced me to the inspiring narrative, “The 12 Pains of Christmas”:
The first thing at Christmas that’s such a pain to me: is finding a Christmas tree.
The second thing at Christmas that’s such a pain to me: rigging up the lights and finding a Christmas tree.
The third thing at Christmas that’s such a pain to me: hangovers, rigging up the lights, and finding a Christmas tree.
The fourth thing at Christmas that’s such a pain to me: sending Christmas cards, hangovers, rigging up the lights, and finding a Christmas tree.
The fifth thing at Christmas that’s such a pain to me: five months of bills (!), sending Christmas cards, hangovers, rigging up the lights, and finding a Christmas tree.
Christmas shouldn’t be about the presents, and it most certainly shouldn’t be considered a “pain” to anyone who truly wants to celebrate the real meaning of Christmas. This holiday season should be about spending time with your family and celebrating that most famous birthday, the birth of Jesus.
