What has happened to the way we celebrate the holidays? As a child I was under the impression that holidays were a time where all the family got together, the adults had some drinks, and we all got to eat good food, and open a gift or two. As an adult, I have come to realize that my childhood understanding of the holidays was highly idealized. Now the holidays seem stressful, time consuming, and costly, but who says they cannot go back to the way I remember them? I think the stress of the holidays is induced, not by our loved ones, but by the commercialization of the festivities.
On Halloween day I was running around, attempting to piece together a last minute costume, as many college students do, when I decided to go into Walmart in search of supplies. Being that it was the day of Halloween, I thought I might find a deal. My hope was diminished as I turned into the Halloween isle and was nearly trampled by an employee carrying a life-sized dancing Santa.
The aisle looked like the North Pole, as employees scurried around like elves, casting Halloween paraphernalia to the side and replacing it with Christmas cheer. I stood there in disbelief; Halloween had barely begun and Christmas was two months away! Why on Earth was this isle becoming a winter wonderland?
I quickly ask an employee where the Halloween supplies had gone, clinging to the hope of completing my costume. She directed me to the next isle where a cardboard display stood containing what looked to be the aftermath of a Halloween stupor.
Needless to say, I did not find my supplies, but that’s not the point. Before one holiday is even over, stores are setting up for the next because we, the consumers, are willing to spend as much as it takes to have a “Happy Holiday.” We have gotten it in our heads that if we do not spend enough money everyone will think of us a terrible host, no one will have a good time, and turkey will look like something out of Christmas Vacation.
Beyond the decorations and food, our understanding of gifts seems to be misinformed as well. For whatever reason, we have decided that the quality of a gift is determined by its price tag, not its thoughtfulness. According to a recent Gallup survey, American adults, on average, plan to spend 781 dollars on Christmas gifts this year. To me this seems a little ridiculous. I am not saying that there is anything wrong with giving each other gifts, but what’s with the focus on the price tag? Why does little Jimmy need a new scooter when what he could really use is a pair of snowpants? And why does Sarah need 37 new gaming systems instead of just one?
Gifts are fun to give, and fun to get, but we should step back and look at their practicality before spending tons on items that will be thrown to the side after a month of use.
Boxstores have us convinced that we need that inflatable reindeer, or the candies shaped like Christmas trees for our holidays to be a success, but what if we didn’t listen? What if, instead of spending outrageous amounts of money on unnecessary things, we spent quality time with each other?
Holidays are supposed to be about family and friends, and spreading good cheer. Let’s reestablish the reason for the season, and forget about the Hallmark side of the holidays.
