Everyone loves Christmas. The lights, the decorations, gifts, sales, holiday beverages at Starbucks. All of these appear around Christmas time every single year. No one ever questions all the measures that our society takes to create a festive environment, and these efforts have become routine for a majority of the population. However, from an objective point of view, some of these Christmas traditions are actually quite strange.
The concept of Christmas lights outside the house is a festive one, a chance for neighbor interaction and happiness spreading. But why would people buy lights that won’t serve the fundamental purpose of lights - lighting rooms and indoor spaces? On top of that, people stand outside in extremely cold weather on ladders, risking their health to add decorations to their roofs and plants. The electricity bill is already sky high from heaters in the winter, and these lights use up a huge amount of electricity. The whole idea of outdoor Christmas decorations not only endangers physical health, but also financial health.
Though fun to wear, ugly sweaters also contribute to strange Christmas traditions. Usually, people spend money on clothing they like or clothing they look the best in. Ugly sweaters don’t fit into that category of clothing, as it literally has the word “ugly” in its name. Yet, people spend money every year on ugly sweaters, which sometimes cost even more than regular sweaters. What’s worse is that these sweaters are so unique that they cannot be reworn for multiple years, which results in a pile of sweaters in the back of the closet that has no practical use after a Christmas party or two.
As the centerpiece of activities during the holiday season, Christmas trees are an integral piece of Christmas season that could make any room festive. Regardless of its role in increasing holiday spirit, the idea of cutting down a tree to set in your living room just isn’t normal. If it were any other type of tree during another season, this action would seem completely unnecessary and even outrageous. For example, if there were a trend where families would cut down cedar trees during the summer and decorate it with keychains and trinkets for a month, then proceed to throw it out, that would definitely not seem normal. Although there are families who buy plastic trees or buy trees with roots to plant later, the idea of placing a large plant inside the house and decorating it for only a month is still hard to wrap the mind around.
As an Christmas season lover, I fully enjoy all the holiday decorations, parades, sales, specials, and everything capitalism could gain from Christmas. The image of families sitting together next to the Christmas tree always brings a cozy and happy feeling to me, while driving by Christmas lights always boosts my mood. At the end of the day, it’s interesting to realize that these traditions that we take for granted and see as routine don’t necessarily apply across all cultures. Nevertheless, Christmas is a time for celebration and spirit, and these traditions are integral to creating that atmosphere for the whole nation.