The Commercialization of the Christmas Holidays

 When people think of the Christmas holidays, the first things to come to mind are egg nog, a warm fireplace, roasting chestnuts, and children opening gifts under a brightly lit tree. Images of carolers stand in their minds singing everything from Ave Maria to Rudolph, the Red Nosed Reigndeer, while a thin layer of snow blankets the ground.  

 However, this is the image that is held only in the mind. More and more, Christmas is begining to turn into the time of year for the biggest sales, fighting for the hottest toys, stressing out over the cost of a tree, and competeing with everyone for who has the brightest lights in their windows.  

 Many malls and stores, such as Macys, have had their Christmas decorations up since August. With the decorations up and the carols playing so early in the year, by the time Christmas really roles around, people are already tired of it. The entire meaning of family has been lost to the rush of commercialization. Do many of the children even know who Santa Claus is outside of the photoset at the mall?  

 "I met Santa," said Marcia Diaz, 5, when asked who Santa Claus was. "He's the big fat man at the mall who takes pictures with the kids and tells their mommy's what they want!"  

 Stories about the Christmas night adventures of Santa Claus have been replaced with commercials of him handing out "mystery meat nuggets" at the mall. It seems that with the rush for the latest toys that will cause a child to cry if it is not under the Christmas tree, people have lost the time to sit with their children and tell them stories of the man who slides down their chimney with presents.  

 And those who have told their children about Santa seem to use him as a disciplinary device. Walking through the mall, a woman held her small son by the arm as he cried while begging to go to the movies. His mother pulled him, and without thinking twice, told him, "If you aren't good, I'm calling Santa and telling him to give your presents to someone else!"  

 Christmas, to many people, is also a religious holiday. For those who are part of the Christian religion, Christmas is the day used to celebrate the birth of Jesus. This, too, has been lost over the years, with the images of Jesus only appearing on cards and the few nativity scenes sold at the mall.  

 But most of all, Christmas is a time of giving, and a time of family. It should not be a time to see who gets the best gifts, finds the best bargains, or who has the best decorations. It should be a time spent in celebration for those see Christmas as a religious holiday. It should be a time for family to be together, when college students are home from school and family strewn across the country are brought together once again. It is a time to give to charity, whether you donate time, money, or other items. It is also a time to reflect on the past year and share your hopes for the year to come.  

 While the sales will go on and the toys will get more and more expensive every year, there is a need to go back to the traditional Christmas. Keep buying and giving presents, and keep battling in the toy stores. That has become as much a part of Christmas as tinsel. But be sure to take the time to tell your children the stories of Santa Claus and St. Nicholas, watch cartoon character Charlie Brown and his friends decorate their tree, and share some egg nog in front of a fireplace with relatives you haven't seen all year.  

 This is what Christmas is about.