For this next blog I thought I would get into the festive spirit. At this time of the year the shops are heaving as Christmas shoppers rush from shop to shop searching for those perfect gifts. Some people love the lights, music and general atmosphere of the Christmas high street, while many others hate it. But what is it that draws all these people into the shops and when did Christmas become so commercial?
From the 1930’s Santa Claus became the secular face of the Christmas holidays. This was popularised by the advent of The Coca Cola Company’s advertising, which actually gave rise to the myth that The Coca Cola Company came up with the colours of Santa’s red and white clothes. While the idea of gift giving at Christmas is a great one, the true meaning of the holiday is becoming lost in the materialistic nature of the modern Christmas. Whilst the retail sector usually booms in the pre Christmas sales in its fuelling of the commercial Christmas, the tradition of the nativity is becoming lost in people’s desire for more and more. Perhaps in these troubled economic times, people could start to embrace the old traditions again. However, does it really matter if Christmas and Santa Claus have become secular and commercialised? As long as the Christmas spirit prevails and Christmas time is full of merriment and joy, isn’t that all that matters. Christmas is a time of year that draws families together, and while many people get grumpy and fall out, we should always remember its only one day of the year so you might as well enjoy yourself while the Christmas magic lasts.
