Christmas
Why Christmas Is Becoming the Worst Time of Year
It is probably because I am getting older, but Christmas is becoming less enjoyable every year. And that is a sad reality because it should be a time of love and giving.
Although my family never had much when I was a child, I enjoyed Christmas more. Yes, I was an excited kid, but I also felt a spirit of togetherness.
Growing up in a single-parent household, Christmas was always small and quiet. There were no huge gifts, and we never had a Christmas tree. All we had was a few pots of my grandmother's great cooking and the winter snow outside.
Now that my family has grown in both size and wealth, we can do much more. We are not rich, but we are a lot more stable, and that means more things. So, ever since my 16th birthday, Christmas has not been as small and humble as it was before.
We now have a Christmas tree, and people get more expensive gifts. There is also more than enough food, and we now invite people outside of our family as a good gesture.
With all of this being said, I am not unappreciative that my family are now better off. However, over the last five years, I have seen Christmas take a negative turn towards materialism in my own family.
Unfortunately, this year is looking like another sad Christmas, and it is all due to the three reasons I will discuss shortly in this article.
#1 Christmas Lists
Due to my humble beginnings, a Christmas list was never a thing. Yes, we sing about it in Christmas songs and tell people what we would like, but I never wrote things down.
To me, whatever gift I got, whether I liked it or not, was sufficient. I was told to appreciate the things I received and even share them with those less fortunate. Although we were poor, the emphasis of Christmas was all about giving, not receiving.
Christmas lists could not make the emphasis anymore about receiving. It is a list of things that the person wants/demands. I have seen my younger sisters physically cry on Christmas day because they did not get everything on their list. As you can imagine, that angered me.
Left up to me, there would be no such thing as a Christmas list. Instead, I would get people to write a list of things they would like to give over the
Christmas period. We are taught that Christmas is the season of giving, yet so many of us stress over the things we “need” for the next year. And those stresses are placed on others when we form our lists.
#2 No Togetherness
I am not old, but I remember when we were not as connected as we are. Social media did not exist, and people were living their lives without it being broadcasted for the world to see.
However, social media now allows events like Christmas to be shared. Of course, there are benefits to this, but also disadvantages.
Unfortunately, we all have our phones out at the dinner table and while we are opening gifts. My aunt and sister always want to never miss a moment so they can populate their Christmas Snapchat stories. We have all become photographers and movie directors of our own lives, and this is the sad part.
Our desire to be seen by the world is losing our connection with the event itself. My family spends so much time filming and sharing, it feels as though they are not even there.
Last year was the worst yet! After opening our gifts, everyone went to their rooms to film their gifts and send them to their friends. Not to mention, they had to share it on their social media stories and show off their new watch or laptop.
It is disappointing that Christmas has become more about self and less about others. For me, Christmas is about uplifting others and treasuring their contribution to your life. And that is a selfless act, not a selfish one.
#3 A Loss of Meaning
Every Christmas, we huddled around the table and listened to my Grandmother read the story of Jesus’ birth. I always used to be inquisitive about the Wisemen and how the shepherds did not run away.
There was always a new question to ask and something interesting to learn on Christmas day. We would sing hymns and thank God for sending the saviour Jesus Christ into the world.
Now, if you are not a Christian, none of that means much to you. After all, you do not believe in it, and you are not commanded to be Christian to celebrate Christmas. However, having a message to share on Christmas is vital.
Unfortunately, my family has lost that. I do not remember the last time the story of Jesus’ birth was read. I also have lost an understanding of what Christmas is about for my family. Yes, we come together and eat a lot of food, but we could do that any other day.
Without a real meaning behind Christmas, it becomes laborsome. For most, Christmas is a stressful time. People need to find money to please others with gifts and find time to spare. Due to there being no meaning in carrying out Christmas, the event is tiring.
So, this year, try to make Christmas mean something to your family. Although it marks the birth of Jesus, you can change it slightly to make it a meaning that suits you.
For example, you can make it about appreciation, giving, love or happiness. All of these emotions are things I, as a Christian, express on Christmas, and I would be more than happy to sit in a Christmas that makes the meaning one of these.
So, think about how you can bring meaning back to your Christmas so it does not end up one of the worst days of the year.
Closing Message
As Christmas is fast-approaching, I wish you all the best for the new year and your Christmas day. You should add meaning to your Christmas whilst having loads of fun. So, enjoy your day, and I hope you love your gifts.