Presents, shopping, money and stress: words currently associated with the Christmas period according to those I surveyed. Is it surprising to see such as description so heavily tainted by consumerism; or in today’s modern age, has this become the norm?
Now mid-way through the annual December hysteria, it seems fitting to ask at what point in time did the Christmas period become an exhausting frenzy of gifts and party dresses. When was it made acceptable for brands to churn out so called ‘must have’ micro trends covered in thick layers of sequins and why do we feel the need to buy them year in, year out? In Britain alone, shoppers send £2.4 billion annually on Christmas outfits they’ll never wear again, with 94% of these party garments being made either partially or completely from plastic or similarly derived materials.
As a nation and additionally the western world in general, it seems that demonstrating a sleek Instagram portfolio of our apparently glamorous lives takes priority. No more are the charitable donations and acts of kindness that more appropriately fit the ‘true’ meaning of Christmas (which we all know deep down). It appears we tend to ignore the moral underlying’s woven into the cheesy festive specials that are regurgitated time and again by streaming services. Instead, we become distracted by their more obvious advertisements of exactly what the right way to do the holiday season is: glitter, booze and expensive, over-the-top demonstrations of love.
With the 2023 Christmas period already underway, perhaps it’s important to stop and take time to reflect on the more meaningful side of the festivities: family, friends and those in need. So, next time you catch yourself considering buying that ‘in’ new skirt, or stressing over whether or not your presents are a large enough expression of your love, think to yourself: is it worth it? Afterall, what would Jesus say?
