It’s a day after Christmas, not to mention five days after the doomsday prediction that never happened, and much to everyone’s elation. The kids are miles away from home, spending their Christmas week off school at their grandpa’s. And much as my online clients are on their own holiday breaks, I had all the time in the world to reflect.
Is Christmas becoming too commercialized?
This is a question that had already been addressed and re-addressed. And the answers don’t vary much.
Christmas, by and large, has become so commercialized that its true meaning had been, at most, inundated by lavish gift-giving, equally lavish banquets … I’m sure you can fill in the blanks.
Image courtesy of Simon Howden / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Yesterday was the day the kids had been waiting for, not so much because of the get-together but the gifts they received as a result of that get-together. Yes, they hauled in quite a steal. Well, maybe not as much as other children who are used to getting what they want on a regular basis. But because my husband and I have trained the kids to only ask for what they need and be happy with what is freely given to them, I’d say they did manage to actually become “rich” on Christmas Day.
This is no fault of theirs, of course. Then again, they have come to expect this sort of thing to happen because media and television have, unfortunately, groomed Christmas in this fashion – a season of smartphones, of iPads and other expensive toys.
Christmas – Then and Now
When I was a young girl, my family was so poor that seeing our empty dinner table on Christmas Eve had me feeling like I was the most miserable kid in town. Just so my siblings and I could join in on the holiday festivities, we were often invited to neighbors’ homes. And the fact that I couldn’t invite them back had me feeling so small and insignificant.
Yes, TV commercials showcasing children with spanking new clothes and brand-new toys on Christmas Day can have that effect on a kid without any.
My father-in-law, for a good number of Christmases now, had been lamenting over the fact that this so-called city “tradition” of complete strangers knocking at his door on Christmas Day saying, “Namamasko po!” was a sure sign that the true essence of Christmas has indeed disintegrated. An old man’s rant, you might say. I’d say the old man has a point.
According to him, when he was a boy, his parents had specifically taught him to visit and pay his respects to relatives or godparents (notice the emphasis) on Christmas Day, that if he was offered a meal, to either graciously accept or politely decline depending on the need, but to never ask for money or toys that the relatives or godparents weren’t ready to offer.
My father-in-law was born and raised in the province. I was born and raised in the province, and my parents taught me the same thing.
Recommended reading: How to Spend Less on Gifts This Holiday Season
Yesterday, there was this young boy of about eleven who, along with other kids who took it upon themselves to go from house to house in what they perceive to be “affluent” neighborhoods saying “Namamasko po!” at the top of their lungs, got my attention. My mother-in-law invited him in and offered him a meal of spaghetti, fried chicken and bread. The kid hastily devoured everything.
When I asked, he cordially told me that he came all the way from a neighboring town and hasn’t had breakfast yet. After eating, the kid thanked us and hastily walked away. He didn’t care to see if somebody would hand him some money. The food, it seemed, was enough for him.
Christmas – the True Essence
In my heart of hearts, Christmas – citified and commercialized though it seems – is still a time of giving, a time of forgetting our own needs and thinking of what may be offered to those who don’t have much in life. Absent the iPads, iPhones that some kids have been wishing for as gifts for Christmas, there is always that sublime moment when we all get to remember the true meaning of Christmas – giving is joy, the same way God gave His own Son for us to experience eternity with Him.
Latest posts by Maricel Rivera (see all)
- Creating a Working Environment in the Home - October 4, 2013
- Time Management is Life Management: When Life Gets Inundated by Time - June 16, 2013
- Speed Writing Is Not Rocket Science, Or Is It? - June 9, 2013
Very well said Maricel. I do feel that Christmas is becoming too commercialized. Here in Canada it seems like Christmas has become more of a Secular holiday than a Religious one. Like you I have tried to teach my children to be grateful for what they have, but it is very difficult to do when all of their friends have new phones and they do not.
Larry James recently posted…5 Common SEO Mistakes Made By Web Designers
Thanks for the kind words, Larry. Yes, unfortunately, that is what Christmas has become over the years. We, parents, mean well, but when it’s media we’re fighting against, what can we do?
For the longest time, my little girl had been quite happy not having a smartphone, but when peer pressure started to kick in, oh, boy, the pressure was on me, too.
Merry Christmas to you and your family!
Maricel recently posted…What Exactly Is Content Marketing?
Cheers to the woman behind http://www.careermomonline.com who openly expresses her views on the real meaning of Christmas with her article, “Is Christmas becoming too commercialized?”. Running parallel is my article, “Significance of the insignificant” posted Dec. 11, 2011 in my website. Check it out.
Thanks, Nestor, for the kind words. It’s sad how consumerism is slowly making people forget what Christmas is all about. I’ve just been to your article, and phrases here and there stood out: age of materialism, lifestyle of vanity, the most significant thing happened in a manger. Thank you for sharing such an insightful piece. I couldn’t have said it any better.
Merry Christmas and happy new year to you and your loved ones!
Maricel recently posted…Holly Jahangiri – Mom, Writer and Blogger Extraordinaire: An Interview
Great post Maricel, and yes Christmas is becoming too commercialized, everywhere we go, there some standards and products we “need” to buy in order to reflect the positive side of the holidays.
thanks for sharing and enjoy your Holidays 🙂
JamesW recently posted…PostJoint Review – How I Made $143 In Two Weeks With It
Thanks for visiting, James. I agree with those “standards” that people are oftentimes forced to purchase just so the positive side of Christmas is reflected. This, in my opinion, is the reason why some people, especially those who lack the financial resources, are forced to steal, just so they can keep up with the status quo. 🙁
Maricel recently posted…Where Will You Be on December 21, 2012?
It is actually too commercialized, my 7 year old daughter keep telling me that all her classmates wants an iPad or iPhone. Even small kids wants more and more each year, I guess it all depends upon on how parents would handle it. For me, as long as we are together and the kids has something, I am happy.
Chubskulit Rose recently posted…Sweet November
Hey, Rose, thanks for your input. Indeed, every year, the gifts some kids ask are getting more expensive. No wonder the godparents have this habit of disappearing come Christmastime, LOL. 😀
Maricel recently posted…To Niche or NOT to Niche: What Bloggers Are Saying
I agree, ‘Cel. It’s too commercialized these days. People are missing the true meaning why the world celebrates Christmas day. It’s all about being with the family, celebrating the gift of love and the gift of life.
Nowadays, it’s all about the gifts and the grandiose buffet table. Even kids and teenagers these days aren’t thankful when they don’t get expensive gifts. Sigh.
Mary Anne Velasco recently posted…Harbin – A Winter Wonderland
So true, Mary Anne, and so sad. As far as I can remember, Christmas had been lavishly celebrated by most, clearly forgetting that the reason for Christmas was actually born in a lowly manger.
Maricel recently posted…Twitter, a Newbie and the Art of Unfollowing
Points well expressed Maricel. Time had truly changed, those media hypes have greatly turned the true meaning of Christmas. The focus now is on how to accumulate more money. Then, before those kids will render 2 or 3 nice Christmas carols before they will utter in unison ‘ Namamasko po’ –but now its so irritating, basta na lang ‘mamask po;. para bang nangingikil na lang.
papaleng recently posted…Decorate Your Christmas Tree with Cats!
Hay, so true, Papaleng. That is why my father-in-law is so exasperated. He says it’s so obvious kids nowadays are just after the money people would be giving them. Ginawa na nga raw negosyo ang pamamasko, eh. 🙁
Maricel recently posted…To Niche or NOT to Niche: What Bloggers Are Saying
i think it is commercialized, but it was less this year because most people were focusing on discount and bargain shopping as well as learning to be smart shoppers, while there was less shoppers than usual because of the declining standard living and economic conditions. my christmas is simple, like my decorations, which actually look quite vintage. i mostly just send some cards and letters to some people while check on what some people are doing over the holidays, hoping they are sharing it with family and/or friends rather than being alone.
I love how you spent your Christmas sending cards and letters, Fifi Leigh. Because of the widespread commercialiization, some people are already forgetting that it’s always the thought that matters. And yes, it seems like there aren’t much shoppers this time for the reasons you enumerated. Thanks for coming over and sharing your insights. I really would like to take a look at your vintage decorations one day. 😀
Maricel recently posted…The Cardboard Box and the Creative You
natapos ko rin basahin..same thing here…walang ganun nung bata pa ako..now that I have baby…wala din masyadong binbagbago..hahaha…but at least i manage to give gift to my siblings now..my baby naman is 2 pa lang so walang masyadong efect sa kanya ang Christmas except that she is mesmerized by the lights ang big parol along the way..
Shengkay recently posted…I Was Scammed Too!
Hi, Shengkay. Thanks for coming over. In my opinion, there really is nothing wrong with giving gifts during Christmas as long as people aren’t obliged to spend too much because this person wants this or that. And sometimes, it’s hard to imagine how Christmas is going to be like ten or twenty years from now when all people care about is the price tag of the gifts they send and receive.
Maricel recently posted…What Exactly Is Content Marketing?
for me sis ha.. i will not gonna blame the media because its up to the parents on what to give to the kids. if they see things that they like in TV and wants to have one, its up to the parents to get it or not. me personally, i wouldnt give my kids what they want. usually i surprised them with things that they dont expect. and of course, we need to explain to our kids the real meaning of Christmas. its not about the gifts but its about the special baby who was born to save us all from our sins. so i dont agree in blaiming to the media everything. and of course grandparents wants to spoiled their grandkids, but we can control that right? by telling them not to buy them so much stuff, coz later on they will not gonna appreciate the little thing that you will give them. and they would start expecting some more.
emzkie recently posted…at Dutch Country, Lancaster
I know where that is coming from, sis. Just me thinking though and based on experience raising three lovely kids, being a parent sometimes can be tough when you’re doing all you can to teach your children this and that and then their classmates or friends plus TV tell them it should be otherwise.
Maricel recently posted…Monday Reflections: Are You Planting?