The holiday craze
Morgan Johnson ’17
Christmas only comes once a year and with it comes the opportunity to spend the holiday season bonding with our families, watching Christmas movies with friends, and giving back to our communities. However, it can be tempting to focus on the commercial aspects of Christmas rather than cherish what the holiday season truly represents.
According to cnbc.com, Americans spent 6.16 million dollars during the 2014 holiday season, a 4 percent rise from 2013.
Beginning as early as October, stores persistently promote their Christmas sales and deals in order to lure buyers into their shops. Decorative displays and elaborate lighting help to create curb appeal, but shoppers should be wary of marketing techniques that promote Christmas consumerism.
Christmas seems to have turned into a time for us to show our gratitude for others by giving presents. Although Christmas may be a time to express our appreciation for loved ones and friends through buying gifts for them, we can also cherish our relationships in other ways such as creating homemade presents, spending quality time together, or doing a favor for friends like cooking a meal or offering to help with an errand.
Performing these kinds of gestures is more genuine and heartfelt than simply purchasing a new handbag. I believe Christmas is for connecting with people and showing love and appreciation in unique ways. We can achieve this by focusing our energies on more meaningful tasks and services.
I believe Christmas is a time for us to reconnect with our faith and refresh our approach to our religions. I often find that I neglect the religious significance of Christmas and end up regretting it after the season is over. This year, I want to make it a goal to remind myself that Christmas is supposed to be centered around the birth of Jesus and the celebration of our faith.
Not only can we focus on friends, family, and faith this Christmas, but we can also give back to our communities. Through serving others, we are giving a non-tangible gift and sharing “holiday cheer.” The holiday season is the perfect time of year to help the less fortunate by volunteering at a homeless shelter or donating to a local food bank.
When we utilize the holidays in a positive way by giving heartfelt gifts and refocusing our faiths, the true meaning of Christmas will reemerge and we will be able to celebrate the season in a genuine and sincere way.
– Morgan Johnson, Co-News Editor
Victoria Allen • Dec 15, 2015 at 4:51 pm
Thank you, Morgan. I was so moved to read this piece, and proud of you, our student, for writing it. Warm wishes to you and the staff for a blessed Christmas and happy New Year.