Thanksgiving has ended, and my email inbox has been suffocating under the weight of endless holiday deals and advertisements. Black Friday, Cyber Monday, Christmas deals, commercials, and jingles have flooded my TV, social media apps, radio, and more. Even the chips at the grocery store are red and green.
Don’t get me wrong—I love celebrating Christmas, and in past years, I have been someone who enjoys decorating before Thanksgiving even begins. However, with each year that passes, I find it harder to find the holiday season as blissful as I did as a child. I think our society’s inclination toward excessive consumerism is partially to blame.
I won’t deny that much of my distaste toward holiday shopping is rooted in my resentment of now having to participate in purchasing gifts (my stance on shopping was a lot more positive when I was not footing the bill). Nonetheless, I miss how delighted I used to become in response to the simplest elements of the holiday season, like when my family drove around the neighborhood to look at Christmas lights or when my classmates and I decorated gingerbread houses in grade school. I think these simple things are what the holidays are really about—spending time with friends and family.
The reason the Christmas season is not as much fun as it was when I was a kid is not just because Santa isn’t real (sorry to break the news). The lens many children have is particularly joyful, regardless of their participation in the holiday season, usually because kids are completely immersed in the present moment. Our society’s collective interest in obtaining top deals or getting the next best items water down the true meaning of the holiday season, which, at its core, is about connection.
Whether that be through spending time with loved ones, expressing gratitude, reflecting on memories, or forming new ones, great gifts can only add to the joy of the experience—not replace it.
Wednesday, December 18, 2024
