OPINION: Christmas should be about community, not consumerism 

Cheap gifts and consumer culture have stolen the true meaning of the holidays

A group totes around shopping bags next to a Christmas tree in Downtown Moscow | Henry Halcomb | Argonaut

With the holiday season upon us, it’s hard to ignore the urge to buy everything we see online. Advertisements are displayed wherever one might look, taking away from the little things that make this time of year special.  

Walking through the snow, drinking hot cocoa and watching dumb Hallmark movies—these activities are the emblems of the season, and all of them are made better by sharing them with others, making memories that seem to last forever in those misty snow globe moments. But with the consumerist nightmare Christmas has become, these moments start to feel as though they’re being ruined by a price tag.   

Marketing is better than ever now, with departments dedicated to crafting slogans and campaigns that will appeal to the consumer. Christmas shopping is an especially lucrative market for retailers because they can feature deals and discounts galore. This concept deducts from the whole point of buying gifts in the first place, making it a game of profits rather than a way to show your loved ones you care.  

Instead of finding presents that are special and hold meaning, they end up being mass produced garbage. Opening the wrapping paper becomes less of a fun experience and more of a gambling addiction, trying to one up the last person with how much money you spent.   

As someone who didn’t go home for Thanksgiving, it’s not hard to say that it was difficult missing out on those special traditions with family. However, there’s no denying that not every family is picture-perfect—even Kevin  McCallister’s family had rocky moments!   

Don’t feel pressured by family to make decisions about your holiday that may not be holly or jolly. There’s nothing selfish about watching Christmas movies with hot cocoa and a group of friends you call your chosen family.   

It’s important to note that the holidays are a time of rekindling familial bonds and relationships. Spending all your time and money worrying about the perfect gift won’t make you happier, but taking the time to sit with your loved ones by the fire and play board games might win you a premium spot on Santa’s nice list.   

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