by S. Linda Jensen

Created on: February 07, 2011

Christmas Stores in major cities all over the country are open all year long, we don't need that do we? The holiday is more about spending and giving than tradition and religion. What a few of us remember as a special event, a time of family and friends with one gift under the tree for each child has been tarnished by commercialism. Gift giving is out of control today and many people put themselves in financial crisis to purchase expensive gifts for children, family and friends. In a nation known for its outrageous debt we have citizens willing to max out their credit cards and bank accounts to "give gifts" to everyone on their list. It's insane.

The Christmas season lasts longer each year with more and more big box stores opting to put out Christmas items as early as late summer when back to school shopping starts. This can only be construed as commercialism.

There was a time when people didn't put up a tree until Christmas Eve, that gifts were more likely of the homemade, handmade variety than from a store. Treats back then included fruits, nuts, candies, hard candy and dime store toys. For the most part people were happy to have simple things, a fire in the fireplace, a tree, a few gifts (often homemade), a dinner with family and friends, a church to go too. It was a time of respect, honor, love and Christ was included as much as Santa Claus.

We endure commercialism for Christmas, we endure it for all the holidays actually. For the many who can afford all the gifts they want, how wonderful for them. Millions of others are not so fortunate and quite a few million are just hard pressed to put a meal on the table, much less have a tree, decorations, gifts and give gifts to others. Those without the means to share the full assault of the media and commercialism of the holidays end up suffering from depression, guilt and shame. They feel bad as a holiday so important and so special is celebrated for months on end all around them. In the gloom of poverty and despair another sad statistic hides in the shadows of the colorful store fronts, the happy music, and the marketing hype; suicides increase during this holiday more than any others.

Gift giving has become an epidemic. You hear that you should make a list, don't forget anyone, buy someting for everyone on your list! The stores say "just charge it" and when the bills come and you are can't pay what do you do then? This part of the commercialism of Christmas is a hard fact of life.  Far too many Americans fall for the glitz and the so called joy of giving only to wake up wondering how they will ever pay it off. Can a ten dollar scarf or a five dollar lotion be that important to someone that you are willing to live with debt and high intrest rates to give these little gifts to every Tom , Dick and Mary that you do business with or know?

Boycott commercial Christmas and bring back family traditions and real joy, put love, respect, God and family as top priorities. Should you have nothing more to give than time and your love make that the best gift of all because it truly is the most wonderful gift ever. Gifts are for children and for Jesus birthday, that is how it should be anyway.

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