Christmas is literally just a week away and I was chatting to one of my best friends, Kieran, about how commercial it has become. He said he had heard an advert for a well known electrical store which mentioned buying loved ones an expensive iPad or Macbook for Christmas and paying on finance. This shocked us both actually that to impress someone close to you, you need to be in debt for a year or so to make that happen. I feel like that had truly lost the magic of Christmas and what it is supposed to be about. It’s never been about materialistic goods only, it’s meant to be a time of happiness, joy, spreading love and spending time with family, not who can buy the most expensive or extravagant gift (that’s fine if you can comfortably afford to, but if it’s beyond your means like they were making out, it’s unnecessary).
I was also at my Buddhist group last week and we had a special get together, did some meditations centered around this time of year, and it dawned on me how busy everyone gets, how hectic life becomes, and how stressful it can also be when you get consumed with the materialistic side of Christmas. We were reflecting back on that and when I think about it, all I see if I go to town is a huge stream of people all rushing around to buy what they need, squashed like sardines at the market, and not many of them look very happy, which is sad since Christmas is supposed to be the most wonderful time of the year.
On the other hand though, Adam and I did see a family/friends group who had asked us to take their photo in front of the Christmas tree and were really grateful and said Merry Christmas to us, the funny guy of the group had his flashing Christmas jumper on, then everyone gathered around carol singers and their faces were lit up with smiles, so I’m glad it’s still there for some. I feel like the materialistic approach that’s set upon us everywhere in the media is what makes us stressed and forget what it’s about, but then when something happens that brings us back to reality, we’re present again, in that moment. For me it’s the excitement with the fake snow that blasts out of the machines in Southgate at sporadic intervals. There’s not many adults that seem to enjoy it, but I sure do! I also stop to look at the lights and decorations, embracing it, as it’s different and so magically pretty, but it seems that a lot of people don’t even look up when I watch, they’re too busy.
I’m not judging anyone here as each to their own, and I used to actually be a big Scrooge believe it or not. I never used to enjoy Christmas as I found it quite boring (among other personal reasons) but as I look back on things now, I really enjoy it. We had a family tradition on Boxing Day when I was younger and we would all go to my gran and grampy’s house for a get together. This would include aunts, uncles, cousins and everything, it was a crazy day, but we would always have my gran’s traditional Boxing Day food which included cheese mashed potato, among other things, and we’d play pass the parcel, other fun games, and my grampy would chase us around with his false teeth sticking out so it was really scary, ha ha, good times. I even used to make my own horse stable by using their cupboard doors and eating a carrot (I was about 8, this wasn’t last week… or was it?). My grampy passed away many years ago now, and my gran moved away, but that magic is still kept alive as my mum does the same foods on Boxing Day, but altered for my dietary needs now.
I always make sure to enjoy Christmas now for what it is, I literally watch a Christmas movie everyday from December 1st (or before) and we put up our decorations as early as we can. I always love the music too! I love to do experiences as last year Adam took me to the reindeer farm if you remember, and that’s something I’m going to remember forever, much more than any gifts that didn’t have any sentimental meaning. When it comes to Christmas movies though, How The Grinch Stole Christmas always springs to mind as it’s purely about what Christmas should be. It was never about the gifts and presents as they always assumed, but about the time spent together, with loved ones. I half wonder if that’s where the notion of coal for naughty boys and girls came from, perhaps if they had coal, they would be forced to spend time with their family and come to realise that’s important?
I generally do prefer the entire lead up to Christmas day, as once the day is here, I get a bit sad as it’s soon over, but also because I enjoy the festivities the most. I usually just watch the TV shows on the day and we have a family meal, but everything else up to that is so much more fun and warming. I would love to know how you feel about Christmas and if you think it’s become too commercial? I hope the magic of it isn’t lost and it will continue to be at the heart of it. I also hope that it might inspire any of you to stop and relax a bit, and not get too consumed, don’t forget to look up and admire the decorations! I can’t wait to go to carols and watch more straight to TV movies! Lorna xx.
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Great thoughts Lorna. Christmas has become no more than commercialism. The true story and meaning of Christmas has been replaced with dollars and cents, or Pounds. It’s sad.
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It is really sad, everyone goes mad this time of year trying to get gifts everywhere and I find a lot of the time none of them have any meaning behind them either, just whatever is easiest as it’s about the gifts and nothing more.
We always go overboard at Christmas with the presents! It’s not that we have a huge budget or anything, just that we like to get each other lots of little gifts. My mum loves Christmas, it’s always the biggest day of the year for her as she gets to cook up a storm for us and see us unwrap all the little things she got us through the year 🙂 At the end of the day though, it’s the time spent together we treasure the most!
By now, Christmas is all wrapped up (except the food shopping, I’m hosting it this year, eek!) and it’s time to kick back and enjoy the season! Family time with the extended family starts on Christmas eve with crafts and movies and cookie decoarating, and then on Christmas day we eat more good food and exchange gits. It’s those days off we treasure!
Hope that you are having a nice week 🙂 I wrapped all the Christmas pressies yesterday, so excited for Christmas 🙂
Away From The Blue Blog
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Oh that sounds really fun 🙂 See that’s different though, it really means something to you, your mum, and your family, that’s really nice!
I think I all depend of where you live. In Europe I feel like the Christmas Magic is still there. Here in the state not so much. Since everyone is worried about buy gift and everything for Christmas.
http://www.amysfashionblog.com/blog-home/
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I’m in the UK and it’s very much like the US here, I think Europe do it differently too.
I agree that Christmas has become a lot more commercial lately and it’s a problem when it puts undue pressure on people during what should be a fun time. Spending it with family has always been my favorite way to celebrate.
Kathrin | Polar Bear Style
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Hopefully people can enjoy it still and spend time with their loved ones!
I love this post, you’re absolutely right by saying that Christmas is about being together rather than about expensive gifts that no one can afford – going into debt for Christmas presents shouldn’t be a thing. I also watch a Christmas movie everyday leading up to Christmas, I watched Christmas with the Kranks just this morning, I love it so much. Your Christmas traditions sound really cute, I also played being a horse with my cousin when I was younger, we would even host imaginary tournaments haha. We usually do Secret Santa with everyone in my family, only that we do a trashy version where we bring the cheesiest things we can possibly find haha. xx
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Ha ha, that secret santa sounds cool! And yes! I used to love playing as a horse, ha ha, I never did any tournaments but I did jump over stuff for sure! Oh the joys of childhood!
I really enjoyed reading this, as my husband and I were having this exact same discussion last night! He is from a Mediterranean background, and over there it is still primarily a religious festival, but it hasn’t been that way in the UK for a long time. I feel like when I was growing up it was mostly about spending time with family, but now the focus is much more on the commercial side of things. There was a TV ad last year that shocked me a bit, encouraging families to buy.a new TV for Christmas because “it’s what Christmas is all about”. Really?! I do like Christmas, although if I’m really honest I’m also glad when it’s over because all those family gatherings can drive me a bit crazy! x
Kate Louise Blogs
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Wow, I don’t remember seeing the TV ad! That would have shocked me too! It’s funny though because this year, I feel like everyone is saying the same thing. They’re not feeling festive, it’s gone too commercial and this year nobody is feeling it at all. I wonder what’s happened to create such a shift in the dynamics lol?
Oh, Christmas!
it makes me think, at Christmas, of my childhood, with my parents and my brother.
It was simple, a Christmas tree with garlands and balls. The meal, oysters, stuffed quails and chestnuts, beech …
I cursed my mother because the quail was full of bones 😀 😀
But, time passes, my parents are dead, my brother went to Province.
And for many years, I was not celebrating Christmas anymore.
Even, I avoided the invitations! I was running away …
With my boyfriends, big big problems.
A few years ago, I started to make myself an improved meal. But, I’m alone, I do not know, but I want to see no one!
And it’s only, last year, that I bought ONE garland and little characters.
And even this year, a little Christmas tree.
I am getting better 😀 😀 😀
And always alone, fortunately, I have a little amicomprehensive.
Our couple: each his apartment, and once at home, and the other time at home.
But, he’s like me,
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Hi Sabrina,
I’m sorry to hear of your back story about why Christmas is hard for you, I can totally understand that completely. I want to say well done though and you should feel really proud of yourself for getting through everything, and starting to make changes with your decorations and things. Every baby step is a huge leap and that’s amazing 🙂
Merry Christmas to you and your family
Author
Merry Christmas!
This is such a lovel ypost.
Thank you for the honest words. It made me take a moment and think about christmas.
To be honest, for me christmas was kinda boring and stressful when I was younger, but now, since I live on my own, I really miss beeing with my family and not beeing the one, who has to manage everything.
But I totally agree, somehow it really is a bit sad, that christmas became so commercial.
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Thanks for sharing your thoughts on it too, I’m glad you liked the post!
Christmas is my favorite holiday by far. And I know for a fact that is also the holiday that brings more sales. I indeed think this time of the year is like consumism at its best, and like everything that goes to an extreme, it would be nice to tone it down. In Argentina we give presents to the children in the family (well, not us, “Santa 😉 ). It’s no obligation at all to give each other presents as adults, some families do it, some families don’t. It’s a bit weird but i can tell you, you save tons of money! Lol.
xx
http://www.stylebydeb.com
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I’m always intrigued by the other traditions of different countries, but how almost everyone still has Santa! Thank you for sharing that 🙂
This is really interesting read dear. Indeed, the spirit of Christmas is about love and compassion. Like most holidays, it’s being commercialized. So it’s really up to us to keep its magic.
Jessica | notjessfashion.com
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Thanks for your thoughts, Jess!
Christmas has crept up on me this year and I don’t feel very prepared for it. It’s nice to have a few days away from work to spend with my parents and my grandad but so far I am not feeling Christmasy. Some of the lost magic might just be down to age though, I think. Maybe the further away from childhood we get the more distant the magic of Christmas feels? It certainly felt like a very special time when I was a child.
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Maybe you could be right about that, as we grow up, I guess it is more for children?
Yes, the only thing that has excited me much so far has been choosing a present for my nephew.