Do you think Christmas has become too materialistic?

[Fiona313]

Yes

No

[19magic]

Sure I've grown and matured since with was younger from having gifts. I also know I used to ask for something big over both my birthday and Christmas. I don't need gifts, but if I were to go over Christmas and not receive a thing I'd be a bit put off.

Since I spent the time, money and thought about most of my gifts I nearly always spend around 10-15 on everybody with some people receiving more like my nan, grandad, dad, stepma, bro and sister. I also get expensive cards for my bro sis, dad and stepma and my friend, with one of them costing 7.50 in the end. I always try and get things that people would like and enjoy and use

[Crystal28]

Yes I do. Christmas now revolves around trampling over one another to get the best deal on gifts. I personally can go a Christmas without presents and just enjoy the decorations and atmosphere. Obviously when I was a child, I could never imagine going a Christmas without getting stuff but when you start maturing, you see and appreciate the holidays differently than you use to.

[InTimoreDei]

Awaiting the dreadful "LOOK WHAT I GOT!" videos on YouTube. It's only about what presents you've received and how "lucky" you are to get such expensive shite. Meanwhile, true believers of Christmas are just happy that they get to spend time with family, dress up, and go to celebrations together.

[DJB72]

It was "too materialistic" 40 years ago.

Now its just obscene.

Why just Christmas? Imagine the backlash if stores did for Eid, Rosh Hashana, Yom Kippur or any other festival of any religion other than Christianity.

[courtney06]

Don’t forget Valentine’s Day...

[errorgoodnameunfound]

eeeeeh... bad comparison in my opinion. All of those are super holy and serious holidays. Not exactly ones of joy like Christmas. Rosh Hashana is perhaps the exception. I would gladly welcome a bit more marketing towards other holidays. Bring on the trade off. Less obsession over sales for Christmas, but more so about other holidays. If that means I'll save a bit of money on things and people understand it more just by ads and stuff so I no longer have to explain, PLEASE go right ahead. Who would oppose sales EVERYONE can enjoy during a holiday like purim? It'd be smart. Costumes everywhere could go on sale and while Jews can do our thing for purim, everyone else can use the good deals for spring costume parties. Alcohol would also be on sale as not drinking on purim is actually a bad thing for Jews. It'd both educate people a bit here and there AND get sales going. Who'd be against lowered prices even if the holiday is not known? This sort of thing would lay of pressure to commercialize ONLY christian holidays so much. It'd make it more fair for everyone in my opinion.

[DJB72]

@errorgoodnameunfound

For those of us who take Christianity seriously, it's a serious festival.

It's the day - however inaccurate in terms of the literal date - that I remember my God loved me so much that He chose to take on the physical form of a human boy so through His sacrifice of His own life I could have a relationship with Him. And that if in the whole of history I personally would be the only one who would accept that sacrifice and trust my life to His care, that He would *still* have allowed Himself to be born at that time.

Easter, the other major Christian festival, has nothing to do with rabbits, chocolate or eggs. It's the other "super holy and serious" holiday in Christianity.

There are only two.

Funny how of all the religions in the world, only the two most holy to Christians have been bastardised by commercialism.

I wonder why that could be?

[errorgoodnameunfound]

a bit off topic there. Im not saying chrstmas or Easter are not serious, but aren't they meant as celebration not time of repenting? From what I know, repenting is more like ash Wednesday or something. But anyways, like I said, go ahead and make the trade. Commercialize the shit outta other holidays and retake Christmas as more serious. I'm all for it. Though don't complain when ads everywhere start saying happy hannukah/happy purim/stuff in hebrew 10x more.

[DJB72]

They are both.

The question was about Christmas being too materialistic. As such, the commercialisation is central to why that's the case.

Every day is an opportunity for repentance. The lenten fast after Ash Wednesday was created by the early Church (before the reformation and Luther's articles were nailed to the door) to help teach about the story of Jesus's life.

Sorry if I sound like some. crazy-ass freak. It's possibly because I *am* a crazy-ass Jesus Freak. Have been 33 years of my 46. Never regretted it once.

[Cammy137]

I mean its a commercial holiday now. Christmas season basically starts the day after Halloween. I can't speak for other people's families but mine has cut down gift buying a lot: both in terms of my immediate family and extended family. Instead, we focus on spending time with each other and celebrate what we have.

[StingRayxoxo]

The idea of gifts (specifically at holiday times) as an expression of love is extremely materialistic.
I love to give (and receive) gifts but it’s more meaningful when it’s not a holiday.

[StingRayxoxo]

Unless it’s for my kiddo. If it’s in Santa’s budget, gifts are pretty magical, especially combined with the spirit of Christmas.

[ManOnFire]

Somebody asks this question every year. The answer is always the same.

[Lisagne]

Yes; I like Christmas the most bc I'm with family and lots of food. Most people brag about how many gifts they got or how expensive they are. Christmas is the celebration of the light and that Jesus gave us light in the dark days. Being with family is way more important than having a lot of gifts

[Princess199902]

I think Christmas has become more about the celebration and the gifts than about the real meaning behind it. I kinda blame stores that sell Christmas decorations and do the whole theme like 2 months in advance, which is obviously, only for sales and some theme to put up

[CarpetDenim]

My grandparents definitely think so. They said this year and onward they’re not bothering with presents anymore, they’ll throw a Christmas party and anyone that wants to go will get a nice meal, and an evening with their family and friends, and that that will be their gift to everyone.

[Wonderer89]

It has but I think as individuals that’s pretty easily combated. The adults in our family (my husbands and mine spend the day all together so we don’t have to travel) do secret Santa so we only have to buy 1 gift. Sometimes hubby and I will buy for each other but if we have something planned we usually just put extra money towards that.
Now we have a baby we’re doing the four gift rule; something they want, something they need, something to wear and something to read.

[midnightmoon05]

Yes and way too commericialized. It has become about the gifts rather than family coming together to enjoy love family time together. and watch kids opening presents.
presents for kids, but don't over do it.

often people forget the real meaning of Christmas. Even though i am not relgious, i do value those who maintain their faith.

[Alice2398]

Yes its all about who can spend the most and who can get the most. People have turely forgotten the ture meaning behind Christmas. Christmas is a time to celebrate the brith of Jesus, not Santa the guy who gives out free gifts to people and to spend time are nearest and dearest not to spend it bragging on social media

[Massageman]

When Christmas trees are going up the day after the back-to-school supplies have been pulled down, yes, I'd say that's too early and too materialistic. Need to get back to the reason for the season and that was for humans to have a path to salvation through the Love of a Savior.

[Anonymous]

Honestly, I feel as though it's never wrong to celebrate an occasion with as much jest as possible.

The materialism is a part of that jest.

I don't think it's wrong. It has become materialistic, but that doesn't mean it's a bad thing at all.

Celebrations should always be larger than life.

[FreshOutaIdeas]

Christmas is a Christian bastardization of many European pagan celebrations anyway - particularly Nordic Yule and Roman Saturnalia...

On top of that, modern "christmas" (Yuletide) really is just about buying lots of shit.

[Guanfei]

Everything is materialistic. Everything. From birth, to Christmas, marriage, funerals...

But objects are only tools. And their purpose is only the one you choose. You don't buy stuff just to buy stuff, you buy stuff because you consider it'll hell you spending a better time at Christmas.

[Aizou]

Well some people definitely put quite the weight on the gift part. Here, Christmas is pretty much a thing for couples, or an excuse to be together, which I enjoy. :)

[midnightmoon05]

I like that idea.

[That1tallguy]

Hasn't it always been that way? Ever since people starting putting gifts under the Christmas tree it became materialistic.

[AmourHoney]

My family have always celebrated with a shit ton of gifts under the tree, but we also make sure that the day is spent with each other, telling stories, eating dinner and just being together.

[Mynameisbobby]

I think yes it has but we all choose what Christmas means to us. Christmas is about family and friends. My greatest gift is my uncle no amount of money or gift from a store can ever change that.

[Ripper_E]

all i ever hear leading up to Christmas is that everyone needs to buy Christmas presents for everyone. I get it for the kids, but everyone? Any adult that expects a present is no adult.

[midnightmoon05]

Agree... i dont understand why adults need to give ea. other gifts.
I get with kids and your SO

[smeezing]

Yes. In the old days it was better to spend time with your loved ones before they succumbed to smallpox and measles

[daisyriddle]

For me, yeah.. The only thing I'm looking forward to with chirstmas is having a Christmas tree and getting and giving presents...