Season’s Greetings: The Evolution of the Christmas Holiday Season It’s the most wonderful time of the year—or so we thought. Between all the joy and magic associated with Christmas, it seems almost impossible to be in a bad mood. However, the countdown until Christmas has turned into an annoyance for many. Over the past several decades, the Christmas season has evolved into one of commercialization and debate among various groups and organizations. The creation of fictional characters such as Santa Claus has taken away from the spiritual meaning of the holiday. Corporations have made this time of year another excuse to shop and satisfy one’s family and friends with gifts. Community leaders and officials have changed many Christmas celebrations …show more content…
Santa Claus has become the most emphasized Christmas symbol and has much to do with why many associate snowfall with this holiday (Moraru, 2013, p. 34). First created with the help of Coca-Cola in the 1930’s, Santa Claus has been found by many to do more harm than good (Hodkinson & Stronach, 2011, p. 15). Despite all the joy Santa Claus brings to thousands of children each year, Santa Claus also brings his share of problems to non-Christian families. For instance, Jewish parents often feel like they must compete with Santa by celebrating Hanukkah more intensely, so their children do not feel left out or ashamed of their culture (Abramitzky, Einav & Rigbi, 2010, pp. 613-614). With an intermarriage rate of over 40 percent in the Jewish community, Jewish parents fear their children may abandon their religion once they start their own families (Abramitzky, Einav & Rigbi, 2010, p. 612). On the other hand, others argue Santa Claus has been said to reenact the coming of Christ by teaching children the steps of childbirth and making them wait for the gifts they requested (Hodkinson & Stronach, 2011, p. …show more content…
As a result, while most Christians spend their day off celebrating the holiday, non-Christians are left with little to do as most businesses are closed. This has led other cultures within the United States to form their own unique Christmas traditions. Members of the Jewish community have started their own tradition of spending Christmas Day ordering and dining on Chinese food (Li, 2011, p. 28). Although this seems like a random combination, the ideas behind these customs may actually be an effort for Jews to use Christmas Day to embrace their culture. What makes Chinese food particularly special for the Jewish community is that Chinese food is representative of traditional kosher food (Li, 2011, p. 29). For instance, the wontons served in traditional Chinese culture are similar to a food in the Jewish culture known as kreplach, which are square or triangular shaped dumplings typically filled with ground meat or cheeses (Li, 2011, p. 30). By eating Chinese food on Christmas, many Jewish people feel as if it gives them their own unique identity since Chinese food is not considered American (Li, 2011, p. 29). On the other hand, other Jewish families use Christmas as a day to volunteer or cover shifts at hospitals and police stations so their Christian colleagues can celebrate the holiday (Shandler & Weintraub,
Of all religious holidays that have been adopted by secularists, one of the most popular would be Christmas, originally meant to commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ. With the exact date of Jesus' birth unknown during ancient times, Christmas was initially assigned to January 6th, but was changed to December 25th under the influence of the winter solstice (Nothaft 903). Peculiarly however, is the universal celebration of Christmas al...
In Jay Mock’s blog “Is Santa Claus a Conspiracy?” he contemplates whether Santa Claus has an evil purpose. Mock goes through what happens every year during Christmas time now and how “good feelings are directly connected to consumerism” (Mock p3), how we lie to support the conspiracy (Mock p5) and the different options a child may go through when trying to decide whether Santa Claus is real or not (Mock p7-15).
Christmas has consumed itself. At its conception, it was a fine idea, and I imagine that at one point its execution worked very much as it was intended to. These days, however, its meaning has been perverted; its true purpose ignored and replaced with a purpose imagined by those who merely go through the motions, without actually knowing why they do so.
This is not your typical Christmas tale. This story is about a group of friends who decide giving is better than receiving around this time of year. There are tons of children who aren’t fortunate enough to get Christmas presents, let alone plenty who don’t even have family to spend the holidays with. Three best friends ended up figuring that out and worked together to truly create a Christmas miracle.
Christmas is almost here again, but have you ever thought how odd some of the holiday traditions are and how they became so popular? Buying a pine tree, setting it up in your house and then decorating it with festive lights and ornaments; hanging up stockings filled with candy over the fireplace; or how an old guy in a red-suit comes to your house the night before Christmas and leaves presents. This, too many Americans is normal, but why? Learning about these holiday traditions will get you into the Christmas spirit and show you what Christmas is truly about.
... Religious Customs, History, Legends, and Symbols from around the World; Supplemented by a Bibliography and Lists of Christmas Web Sites and Associations. Detroit, Mich: Omnigraphics, 2003. Print.
In "A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens, Ebenezer Scrooge undergoes a transformation as a result of his encounters with three ghosts and becomes a kind, happy, and generous man. His greedy, cruel, and grumpy demeanor is replaced seemingly overnight, but he doesn’t just wake up and decide to be nice. It takes three Spirits to change his outlook on life - The Ghosts of Christmases Past, Present, and Future. The Ghost of Christmas Past makes Scrooge begin to regret his selfishness, and the Ghost of Christmas Present begins to teach him about others. This second Ghost helps to make him realize that money doesn't buy happiness. The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come, however, teaches the most profound lesson of all: unless he changes, no one will care if Scrooge dies. Because of the Ghosts, by Christmas morning Ebenezer Scrooge is a completely different person from the man who went to bed on Christmas Eve.
Christmas used to be a time when families gathered and love enclosed each member. Meals and stories were shared and times were simpler. Christmas Eve and Christmas Day Mass were special times for families to sit back in a pew and remember the true meaning of Christmas as carols were sung in the high choirs. This serenity and peace seems to be a thing of the past. Now, people are drowning in the pressure that Christmas is all about presents, and that unwrapping gifts on Christmas morning is what this joyous occasion is centered around. Another misconceived thought is that Christmas has to be bought and given away in order to have a good time. In 2010, a stunning “4.8 million people [found] time on Christmas Day to go online and shop.” On the contrary, only “4.5 million people who attend an Anglican, Catholic, Methodist, Baptist or Pentecostal church,” was present in church on Christmas Day. The thought that shopping is more important than the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ is appalling to Christians throughout the world.
Ah, to be a kid again. How wonderful it would be to relive the magic of Christmas. Don’t get me wrong, I have always been a kid at heart and a true lover of Christmas. But as we get older and we realize that Santa Claus and the North Pole were just stories our parents told us so we’d behave, Christmas starts to lose that magical feeling. No matter how much we might still love it, Christmastime just isn’t the same as when we were young. And at a time of all the aggravating shopping hustle and bustle, dents in the pockets, headaches, traffic jams and long lines, I begin to realize that God has sent me the most magical Christmas gift of all, a beautiful three year old whom I can relive Christmas in all over. Through my child’s eyes, I see myself each time his face lights up at the sight of Santa, and I feel his anticipation each morning as he faithfully opens up one more window on the Christmas calendar. Tonight, as we decorate the tree, I admiringly watched his tiny fingers delicately place each of the ornaments on all the same branches until they drooped to the floor. So proud of his work, I secretly placed some elsewhere, as to not hurt his feelings, and wondered how many times my own mother had done the same thing. And after a long day of shopping and excitement, I watched his eyelids begin to droop while lying underneath the warm glow of the Christmas tree lights.
The well known holiday of Christmas today is far from what it was in it’s former being. Many aspects led to the change in Christmas, however Charles Dickens, a Victorian era author was arguably the most influential in the change. There was a time when christmas was not much more important than your average holiday. Without the work of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, Regency Christmas would not have changed to be the way it is today. As we examine the Regency Christmas, the Christmas events in A Christmas Carol, new Christmas ideas, and today’s new christmas we will form the true Christmas.
Today it seems as though Christmas has fallen victim to materialism and commercialization. Rather than it being a time of loving and giving, it has become a stressful season of greed. Amidst all the hustle and bustle, it is important for us to recognize the true reason of the season, and celebrate in a fashion that exemplifies that reason.
Although Santa has become the main staple of the Christmas season it is important to remember the true reason for the season. Jesus’ birth is what December 25 began as until Saint Nicholas day merged with it. Even though the character that has developed and encountered extremely drastic changes, he has almost always been a giving generous figure in society. “Santa is ‘an invention of the advertising industry’ and ‘a representative of consumer society,’ according to Bonifatiuswerk der deutschen Katholiken [Boniface of German Catholics], which seeks to restore St. Nicholas to his proper place in the Christmas season” (Sweas).
make my way to the frost coated back door, illuminated by the green and red
Frosty the Snowman waves hello alongside Santa 's reindeer that are ready to take off. Candy canes line the sidewalk and the ginger bread dolls dance in a merry circle. The trees all sparkle with thousands of red, yellow, purple, blue, and orange lights. Out back, Mary and Joseph stand over baby Jesus, Choo-Choo train’s chug in spot, stars twinkle with bright yellow bulbs, and Mr. and Mrs. Santa Clause wave in the distance. Kerkhoven, MN, the location of the happiest house on the block. Every year my breath is always taken away as my eyes struggle to soak in the utter abundance of Christmas spirit. I 'm smiling and we 're not even inside yet.
A few days later, my family were all gathered around for lunch when Emily began questioning me about Santa Claus. She appeared so enthusiastic and happy for Christmas that I did not want to ruin it for her. So I started telling her about The North Pole and the flying reindeers and anything associated with Santa. Deep down, I chastised myself for tricking her, but I thought a little white lie will not hurt anyone. I looked up and my mom gave me “the look”, and I knew that was not a good sign.