Location: The place that Harry Henderson calls home....
Posts: 1,672
The commercialism we call " Christmas"
Does it sicken some of you, the way it does me, that for a long time now this once revered and special day to remember past loved ones, special times, love, warmth and the meaning of Christmas has been lost to a mass commercialism and consumerism that is almost disgusting?? That Christmas day, and I' m not sure when, somehow evolved into a " holiday season" ??
Now don' t get me wrong, I prefer to do most of my speaking to the man upstairs from a tree stand or the woods. I have been known to twist the law in my youth and still succumb to imbibing in the spirits. I love to go get the tree and decorate that baby with the family, and love to see the twinkle in my daughter & wife' s eyes when the presents go under the boughs. And, don' t think for a minute that my mouth won' t be watering on Christmas day from the ham in the oven and all the trimmings.
But I can' t stand seeing Walmart and other retailers put up artificial Christmas trees (which should be a crime in itself) in August!! It wouldn' t be so bad, I guess, if Christmas was thought about the four weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas, as it was 25 years ago. As a father and husband, I understand the relevance of gift-giving and wanting to share with my family and friends.
The older I get, and the more my daughter questions---she is now going on 3 1/2---the harder it is for me to accept certain American societal trends & tendencies. I mean, in all honesty, do you think that most people under the age of 20-25 actually understand what Christmas is really about anymore??
I would love to see some of your comments...
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"The first requisite of a good citizen in this republic of ours is that he shall be able and willing to pull his own weight." Theodore Roosevelt
Well, I know that all my children know the true meaning of Christmas. And with six kids, there was never much danger of it becoming all about the presents. But I am tired of seeing Christmas stuff in the stores so early. I know the Walmart here had stuff put out back in September. That stinks. It' s gotten to the point where it' s easy to be tired of Christmas before it even gets here! I just try to stay out of the stores as much as possible---not a problem, as I hate to shop.
On a positive note, I am lucky to live in an area that still celebrates " Christmas" . My children get " Christmas Vacation" , not " Winter Holiday" or some other generic, PC substitute. The schools have Christmas Programs where you can still hear the kids sing songs like " Away in a Manger" and " Silent Night" . Our town gathers at the park to light the big Christmas tree and sing carols, and there are live Nativity Scenes around town every year. Alot of people don' t have these things anymore. That is a tragedy.
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I thought all writers drank to excess and beat their wives. You know one time I secretly wanted to be a writer.---C.K. Dexter Haven
Location: Adirondack Moutains USA Member since sept/02
Posts: 1,639
RE: The commercialism we call " Christmas"
Well as many of you know I am not of the Christian faith BUT I still celebrate this time of year. I believe it should be a time of sharing and giving, driving around and checking out the lights, and just having a good time with family and friends. You are correct Strut&Rut it seems anytime society as a good thing too celabrate the stores turn it into a money maker and ruin the whole deal. I know up here they had junk out in sept. What ever happened to waiting until the holiday gets here.
Mr4pt why did Santa ruin Christmas? The thought of a person going around to homes and giving children presents isn' t a bad thing, is it?. In my opinion it shows that sometimes it is nice just to give and not ask for anything in return, except maybe a smile from alittle one.
Whether or not you are of the " Christian faith" , I believe you still know the original meaning of Christmas. Just because you don' t believe that Jesus was born on Christmas night (not literally, it' s just a random date Christians picked to celebrate His birth) does not mean you are totally unaware of the true meaning of Christmas.
With the introduction of Santa Clause, the true meaning of Christmas, whether you have faith or not, was ruined.
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Location: land of the Lilliputians, In the state of insanity
Posts: 24,185
RE: The commercialism we call " Christmas"
I love the Christmas time. I love the spirit and everything, but yes, I have noticed a trend of cashing in on Christmas earlier and earlier each year. I think of Christmas this way; its what you make of it. I insist on my kids knowing and understanding the reason for the season, but still find time to enjoy the hype that goes along with it.
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kaafir mushrik
Unintended consequences and God have one thing in common: Liberals don’t believe in either of them.
Location: Adirondack Moutains USA Member since sept/02
Posts: 1,639
RE: The commercialism we call " Christmas"
Quote:
ORIGINAL: mr4pt
Whether or not you are of the " Christian faith" , I believe you still know the original meaning of Christmas. Just because you don' t believe that Jesus was born on Christmas night (not literally, it' s just a random date Christians picked to celebrate His birth) does not mean you are totally unaware of the true meaning of Christmas.
With the introduction of Santa Clause, the true meaning of Christmas, whether you have faith or not, was ruined.
Are you talking about " THE TRUE CHRISTMAS" or are you talking about the birth of christ because no one knows when Christ was truely born. Christmas, winter soltice, etc.. was around way before Christ was born it was not until 336AD when Emperor Constantine turn the pagan holiday into a Christian Holiday. This would have made it some 300 hundred years after the actual birth. As far as Santa clause there are different storys. The one most Christians use is from Saint Nicholas a Christian Bishop that would go around and give kids presents. The funny thing is that Santa(old man winter etc...) was going around giving presents before Christ was born. So once again Santa is not a bad guy and it would be impossible for him to ruin something that he was part of before the Christians used the date for Christ' s birthday. Santa and the birth should be celabrated like it was originally intended. There are many storys and facts written through history that clearly shows this time of year as allready being a holiday wwwaaayyy before the birth. If the Christian originally excepted this then why now in the 21century are some people trying to change it? Santa, Old Man Winter, Saint Nicholas, or whatever some one chooses to call him is a person that believes in giving, and caring especially for kids. Just because society of today has twisted this, doesn' t mean we should hang Santa? Why not teach the true meaning of Santa, why gave into this commercialization garbage.
I HATE this damn hoiliday more than any other. I get mad thinking about it. Everybody is stressed out about spending money, peoples on evry corner beggind for charity, televison is flooded with crap shows, can' t say " Christmas" either, its got to be " Holdiays" so as not to offend anyone ...
.. and this year my little 4 year old girl has learned " I want, I want, I want" in relation to Christmas. She' s gotten this from her pre-school friends foremost I suspect and its going to be a struggle to teach her the real meaning when all she see' s are the negatives involved with it.
Wanna talk trees ? How about Easter bunny ? No ? Lets talk about the bastardization of every holiday we have. At least Thanksgiving has been watered down only to the point of people piggin out and watching football all day and not thanking anyone for anything .... pale in comparison to whats been done to the birth of Christ
BTW, I suspect my little 4 year girl will shock quite a few kids this Christmas, as we have always told her Santa DOES NOT EXIST. Daddy and Mommy give presents, not Santa, and THAT is one of the true meanings of Christmas, to give and not recieve. We take her shopping, let her " buy" gifts and give, just like we do. I think it gives her a sense of giving, and not the almighty " recieving" that everyone else is caught up in.
The commercialism we call " Christmas"
My children get " Christmas Vacation" , not " Winter Holiday" or some other generic, PC substitute. The schools have Christmas Programs where you can still hear the kids sing songs like " Away in a Manger" and " Silent Night" . Our town gathers at the park to light the big Christmas tree and sing carols, and there are live Nativity Scenes around town every year. Alot of people don' t have these things anymore. That is a tragedy.
