by Carlos Soto Angulo
Holiday cheer has been turned into a commodity–this is how consumerism has overshadowed the Christmas Spirit.
Disclaimer: This piece does not include commentary relating to Christmas in Christianity in any way, only the Christmas season in relation to American culture.
As the nights grow cooler–somewhat–the streets fill with a special kind of magic. The twinkling lights strung along palm trees dance in rhythm with the pulse of the city, and the family hum of holiday tunes fills the air. But beneath the festive glow, something feels different this year. The warmth of Christmas seems to be slipping through our fingers as if swallowed by the very lights decorating our homes–lights some even put up in October.
Christmas, it seems, has become an endless race–a marathon of sales, shopping carts and receipts. Instead of waiting for the holiday to unfold slowly, savoring the time with family and friends, we rush to the finish line, armed with credit cards and a shopping list that never seems to end. The National Retail Federation reports U.S. holiday sales topped $960 billion last year, with the average American spending nearly $1,500 on gifts and decorations. The rush to find the perfect present has become its own holiday tradition, one that leaves us more stressed than satisfied.
What happened to the days when Christmas was about sitting around the tree with loved ones, or sipping warm hot chocolate while you fought with your cousins about who gets the next turn on the Xbox–the true holiday experience? Why is it that, despite all the presents under the tree, the season now feels emptier than ever? A study by the American Psychological Association reveals that 89% of Americans nationwide feel financial stress during the holidays, with many going into debt just to keep up with the expectations of the season. We find ourselves standing in front of racks, hunting for that ever-elusive “perfect gift,” but in doing so, we look past the moments that don’t come with a price tag.
It seems the message we’re getting is that Christmas isn’t really Christmas unless it’s wrapped in a bow–or maybe a hundred bows, scattered around a pile of presents. The advertisements bombard us with the images of “ideal” holidays: families with those matching pajamas, high-tech gadgets we’ll use for two months and go on to forget, homes decked out in decorations so perfect they could be on a magazine cover. Phony. Social media amplifies this by showing us glimpses of seemingly flawless Christmases, making us feel that if we don’t live up to these standards, we've somehow missed the point.
This pressure, especially on younger generations is immense. Kids today aren’t just dreaming of sugarplums—they’re dreaming of the latest smartphone or the newest gaming console. A report by Common Sense Media found that kids are exposed to hundreds of holiday-themed ads, often leading them to believe that Christmas is all about what they can get, rather than what they can give. The very idea of “gift-giving” becomes lost in a sea of "must-have" items, where the value of a present is measured by its price tag, not its meaning.
But Christmas was never about the price tag. It was about something deeper: connection. The best gifts don’t come in shiny boxes, they come in the form of memories that last long after the milk and cookies have been scarfed down. The smell of homemade cookies wafting from the kitchen, the sound of laughter shared with family members gathered around the table, the simple joy of being in the company of people you love–these are the true treasures of the holiday season.
So, how do we reclaim this season from the clammy grip of consumerism? It starts by shifting our mindset. Instead of sprinting down the crowded halls of Dadeland Mall, frantically searching for the “perfect gift” for your grandma–she’d be happy with a simple cookie tin–we can slow down and focus on the things that truly matter. And although it might sound lame, give experiences instead of things–an afternoon spent walking along the beach or a trip to see a jazz band play in a dingy restaurant. This doesn’t mean we need to abandon traditions or stop giving gifts altogether. Rather, it’s about reimagining what a “gift” really is.
At the end of the day–or year, I guess–Christmas isn’t something you buy. It’s something you live. It’s found in the moments shared with loved ones, in the kindness we extend to strangers, in the customs we celebrate. This year, embrace the quiet glow of family traditions over the bright flash of sale. If we can do that, we find that the magic of Christmas isn’t lost—it’s just been waiting for us to look beyond the wrapping paper.
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