It’s time to take out the tinsel and arrange the ornaments. Christmas is quickly approaching, but you already knew that. That’s because Christmas is the most commercialized holiday in America, and possibly the world. But how did it get this way?
It all started with a man by the name of F.W. Woolworth. He saw the marketability of glass ornaments in the United States. He originally saw them in Germany in 1880 and decided they would be the perfect thing to sell during Christmas time. From there, the idea of decorating the classic Evergreen tree became a staple of Christmas.
Ornaments lead to other decorations and then came the image of Santa Claus. Santa first made his way into mainstream holiday culture in 1931. He was featured in the Saturday Evening Post, the country’s first magazine. He sported his classic red suit, a jolly smile, and a bottle of Coca-Cola in his hand. That’s right, Santa was originally used as a marketing tool for a popular soda company. Although the idea of Santa Claus existed before this, Haddon Sundblom’s image sealed the deal on the quintessential look.
Since then, Christmas has become the most recognizable holiday in America. It’s hard to ignore the red and green color scheme you see everywhere from shopping malls to the White House. And it seems like these decorations go up earlier and earlier each year.
The whole month of November seems to be skipped over as we go straight from Halloween in October to Christmas in December. About 52% of Americans are at least a little bothered by this, but these people said they are more bothered by the actual commercialization rather than the public display of religious symbols. And for someone who doesn’t celebrate the holiday religiously, it’s easy to forget that Christmas is supposed to be a Christian celebration.
In recent years, Black Friday sales have started as early as 5 o’clock the night of Thanksgiving. This year alone, it is estimated that the average American adult will spend $785 on gifts. That’s not to say all the money goes to Christmas gifts specifically, but Christmas tends to take the credit since it’s the biggest holiday. Though some say the gift giving in symbolic of the gifts the Wise Men brought to Jesus, this seems a little far-fetched. There’s nothing wrong with giving gifts to show appreciation for family or friends, but the some of the spending seems excessive.
No matter what holiday you celebrate, this time of year should be about giving back, whatever that means to you. It’s easy to forget what the holidays are really about when all you see around you is cash flowing toward material items. Don't get me wrong, I love getting a new necklace or pair of boots. But you shouldn’t have to drop hundreds of dollars just to show your loved ones you care. It’s important to focus on what really matters this holiday season, and that’s the people that matter most to you. So this December, grab a cup of hot chocolate and cuddle up with your favorite seasonal movie. Spend time with those you love, because that’s really the best gift you could give them (and maybe a Starbucks gift card).
