Cynthia’s Thoughts: Commercialization, Traditions and Modern Christmas

Thursday is Christmas Day. I love the holiday, but there are two things about Christmas which bug me. The first is mass commercialization.  There are so many cheesy “gimme gimme” ads, and kids are really demanding of the types of presents they want, even in this current economic climate.  In reality, Christmas has been very commercialized for decades – centuries, in fact.  In order to do without the holiday’s commercialization, we really have to go back to the days before the Industrial Revolution, which created a middle class who were able to spend money on things that they didn’t really need.  

I recall being a kid in the 1980s and 1990s and not noticing any holiday-related decorations in stores before Halloween.  However, in the past few years, Halloween and the beginning of Christmas seemed to overlap.  Around 2003, I started seeing tinsel at some stores a few days before October 31.  Yes, October 31.  Shouldn’t they wait until at least November 1?  They hadn’t even put away the costumes, nor have they taken down the black and orange. Don’t they realize that Halloween colours and Christmas colours clash?            

The other thing which bugs me about Christmas is the misinterpretation of certain symbols.  Many cities have attempted to call their Christmas tree a “holiday tree” (though they usually switch back) to be inclusive.   A few years ago in Toronto, there was also a case of a judge who ordered a tree removed from a courthouse because she ”thought it would make non-Christians uncomfortable.”  Had she used the “religious symbol” excuse (i.e. no religious symbols on government property), then perhaps people would buy it, even though Christmas trees actually have pagan roots. 

There is something that many people don’t realize.  Christmas was a tactic the Church used to convert the masses – relate it to something they’re already familiar with.  After all, people don’t respond to things they don’t understand.  The “real” Christmas was probably in the spring or summer if you base it on when the so-called “Christmas star” appeared.  December was picked just so that masses wouldn’t have to rearrange their festivals. Christmas was supposed to replace festivals like Saturnalia.  

Of course, I don’t hate Christmas.  I’m no Scrooge.  I just hope that in these times, people will take the commercialization less seriously, and instead, spend time with family and loved ones.