by Deborah Allan

Created on: November 17, 2009

The sounds of Christmas are already buzzing in the air, on television, and on the radio. Some stores not only have their christmas decorations on display for purchase, but are decorated and, you may even see a house or two with their Christmas lights on. But, it really is not as joyous as it used to be, because of the way Christmas has become a very commercialized holiday, and it seems that is exactly what it has boiled down to.

Listening to the radio the other night, I heard the first signs of Christmas, the beautiful music of Jingle Bells in my ear, until I heard the words to follow, something about making sure we but this or that for a low low price of $89.99, blah blah blah. At least once a day since, I have seen on tv or heard on the radio another commercial regarding buying the latest gizmo to make sure our loved ones get just what they want for Christmas.

Sadly, this is just what Christmas has come down to. If you ask any 5 year old what Christmas is about, most of them will say either Santa Claus, or presents. Close, but I thought that Christmas was about celebrating the birth of our savior Jesus Christ. It was when I was a child, so what changed?

I can tell you very simply what changed....commercialization, and the need to make a profit off of the most sacred holiday we have ever had. And, I think that retailers and big business should be ashamed. I tend to lose my Christmas spirit a little more each time another Christmas commercial for Wal-Mart or Sears comes up with just one more gimick to take our money, and it is time to say enough.

We, as consumers, really need to take a look at what Christmas used to be, when we were little, and return to those days. The feeling of Christmas lasted more than a couple of hours while opening presents, and it used to be about caroling, spreading cheer, and helping others. I don't want my children to think that Christmas is about who gets the best gifts out of their class, and if we could get past the commercialization of it all, maybe we could be a lot more merrier.

I love Christmas, don't get me wrong, I just hate that it has changed to spending a huge amount of money, purchasing things we don't even need, just to fill a void that used to be the real meaning of Christmas.

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