Every year I hear the moaning and groaning about how Christmas is just one big commercial fest. Actually, Santa Claus in America has always been a commercial entity. Near the end of the 19th century the retail powers-that-be decided that Christmas needed a commercial boost and borrowed some of the Christmas traditions brought here by other countries to construct "Santa Claus." It worked! Retail sales increased and depending on the economy, consumers have more or less used retail to express their need to give at Christmas. If Christmas seems more commercial now than it was in earlier times, it is because we have greater knowledge of and access to what is available.

Now, just because IT is available, or just because your kids are asking for IT, doesn't mean you have to buy IT. Also this doesn't mean that you can't give homemade gifts instead of those that are bought. The responsibility as to how much you spend, what you buy, and to whom you give, is still your own.

Christians believe that this is the time to celebrate the birth of Christ and giving is part of that celebration. But even it you are not a Christian and you participate in the holiday because it feels good or because it seems that most everyone else is doing it, remember these following things:
(1) Some of the emotional and financial stress can be avoided if you spend only what you can afford. After Christmas is over, the terrible pressure of overextending credit cards can ruin the coming year, and then, Christmas comes again!
(2) Give to only those you care about-giving for career advancement or other political reasons seldom reaps the benefits for which you hoped.
(3) Give gifts that are practical and simple-don't use Christmas to impress your family, friends, or neighbors. The reality is that you don't impress them but may provoke envy or guilt instead. Children are seldom grateful for very long so don't hope to buy their love and devotion.
(3) Planning and shopping early in the year alleviates that rushed feeling; that rushed feeling isn't that "Christmas" feeling at all.

The true meaning of Christmas is what you make it in your heart. If you are feeling "Scroogey" and are not looking forward to it, if you dread it and wish it wouldn't come, you are the only one who can change it for you. Planning ahead, keeping it simple, and using your own creativity will help Christmas be a season of love and good cheer. It surely is a time for businesses to "hock" their wares but remember you don't and shouldn't buy most of what you see.

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