As pumpkins and goblin decorations go back in boxes, reindeers and wreaths reemerge. While Christmas is possibly the most highly anticipated time of year for many, the commercialization that has taken ahold towards the season of Santa not only creates a new meaningless aim at the holiday but also takes away the materialization of family time associated with Christmas.
Early celebrations initially derive from the feeling of winter and snowfall, and although the first snowfall has already hit the Pointes, this is no excuse to start celebrating. Many have forgotten the true meaning behind Christmas and the religious history behind it.
I’m not saying you must be a devout Christian, or a Christian at all to celebrate Christmas. But major retailers throw out the religious aspects of the holiday’s roots are found in, and replaces it with flashy lights and wrapping paper, eliminating any trace of the true Christmas spirit.
Big box retailers have also heavily based their yearly revenues on the time of year. According to the Statista Research Department, in the 2018 Christmas season consumers in the U.S. spent an average of $794 total on Christmas gifts.
One of the largest most notorious “holidays” of the year includes Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving. According to DMR Business Statistics, there’s a 65 percent increase in foot traffic on Black Friday than any other day in November. This benefits major retailers greatly as they have the opportunity to put hot and big items on sale for discounted prices. But what must be taken into account with these traditions is the fact that people don’t only separate themselves from their families to buy these products, but minimum wage workers must take time off from their families during Thanksgiving to deal with the chaos within stores.
While retailers have a great incentive to start selling Christmas items early, families have no gain whatsoever. The lack of respect for the holiday stores have is a true disappointment and shows no true spirit towards Christmas. While I do understand these stores are in it to make money, I find that no excuse for them to use this time of year as a way to profit off average citizens.
The inability of many department stores to hold off and preserve the Christmas season for their hopes in gaining more and more money is a stain on the season of cheer. Christmas is meant to be reserved for a certain time of year, and yet many forget this, and choose to celebrate before other holidays turn stale.