Yep, you read that right. I’m telling you what I hate about Christmas. Now, don’t get me wrong, I love Christmas or at least what it’s supposed to be. I listen to all the festive jams, enjoy the seasonal treats and even decorated a Christmas tree for my roommates and I to enjoy.
However, there are aspects of Christmas that I am really not into. These days, it seems like the Christmas season is becoming more about hustling around and checking off to do lists and less about spending time with family and recognizing what matters in life.
It begins with the day after Thanksgiving, the day known to most Americans as Black Friday. No, wait, it really begins in October when stores start disregarding other important holidays like Halloween and Thanksgiving. Preparation for the holiday begins far too in advance if you ask me, at a time when all I want to be worried about is what fall scented candle is burning in my living room.
But anyway, Black Friday. This day is turning Christmas into a holiday designed for materialistic, greedy and penny-pinching consumers. Each year, stores open earlier and earlier turning Black Friday into Black Thursday night. Soon enough, and I guarantee it’s sooner than you may think, Thanksgiving will be a tradition of yesteryear.
With people skipping out on a massive home-cooked meal to stand in the cold, wait to elbow their way through a feisty crowd and fight to the point of violence for a mediocre deal, I’d say society has a problem on its hands. At least to me, saving thirty bucks on a gift that’s probably for yourself anyway isn’t worth the hassle and it certainly isn’t worth missing the second round of mama’s mashed potatoes.
Not only is the way we purchase gifts getting out of hand but also, the type of gifts we’re giving. The presents under the tree have become less about the spirit of giving and more about keeping up with the Joneses. Maybe I’m different but I would much rather receive one to three well thought out, quality gifts than a ton of small, irrelevant junk.
For me, it’s important that the person who is giving the gift put thought into it. It’s important that they know what I like and if I can tell that they put thought into it I will appreciate it that much more. Stop buying gifts just to buy them.
Think about why you’re buying the gift and what the receiver means to you. What’s quirky about them? What are they passionate about? What do they need? I would prefer to get something I can use rather than something that’s going to sit in a drawer or on a shelf and collect dust.
So, what I hate about Christmas isn’t really Christmas at all, it’s what society has morphed the holiday into. The commercialization of Christmas is awful and consumers really need to stop buying into it. Focus on what matters over the holiday season and set your priorities straight. Merry Christmas!
