Why is it that Christmas décor is sold well before Halloween? What's up with all the Christmas in July sales? And why are so many people obsessed with the idea of gifts?
Go ahead and call me the Grinch, but I absolutely hate the consumerism that accompanies Christmas.
Just like the Grinch had a certain loathing for the Who's and all of their obnoxious Christmas shopping and decorating, I feel the same about what our society has done to Christmas.
The meaning of the holiday has been lost amidst all the commercialization of Christmas. Calling Christmas X-mas for example, completely erases the point of the holiday and thrives off the idea of Christmas that stores have provided our society.
Businesses have turned the Christian holiday celebrating Christ's birth into yet another way for them to make money.
Stores have perfected the science of marketing Christmas to everyone. For Christians, they throw in items such as countless Nativity sets, angels, and what have you that the businesses know will appeal to them. For non-Christians, they have turned the day into one that holds more cultural significance than religious significance.
Jesus was a simple man. He did not live a luxurious life, nor did he want to. Do you think he would want an elaborate birthday party every year where people spent thousands of dollars?
If you believe in the true meaning of Christmas, then stop showing off how much money you have every time the season comes around.
Let's resolve the abhorred commercialization of Christmas by not filling our stores with Christmas décor, but meaningful items equally displayed for all the different holidays of various religions during the season.
The real way to celebrate Christmas is not through shopping, extravagant decorating, and spending entire paychecks on gifts. It's about giving extra love to family and friends, and yes, strangers.
Strangers who have the same beliefs or not. Strangers of the same socioeconomic status or not. Christmas is about giving to those in need and reminding the people who mean the most to you how much you love them.
Until a Christmas season rolls around where Americans don't turn Christmas into another reason to spend money and would be happy on Christmas day despite all their "ribbons, tags, packages, boxes, and bags" being taken away like the Who's, don't hold your breath on my heart growing three sizes like the video of the Grinch below.
