Christmas is too commercial

Christmas is a big mixture of traditions from paganism, more modern religions, other traditions and now the great god commercialism. I wouldn't mind if it started in December and carried on until the New Year, but when it starts in August and ends on Boxing Day I think it is taking the mick just a bit. The thing that makes the most sense in our cold climate is that it marks the longest night and the return of the spring. Things start to grow again after December. If you think, long ago, this was important to people when they relied on what they grew for their survival. Now we buy everything in Tescos. I prefer New Year, it is less commercial.

Hi, I have a seen essay tomorrow and have a choice of the topic "The Christian ritual of Christmas has never really been about Christ, it has been hijacked for commercial purposes". I have been rather interested by all the responses I have found on websites like this; from the deeply religious, the 'reason for the season' people, the 'give me gifts and money' mob, the people who are all about the family, as I've seen here; the people that don't care at all, and all other spaces in between. I've haven't always appreciated all that I have received, Christmas or not, but this is not in the true 'spirit', as it were, of Christmas. I have noted that many of what would be considered 'commercial' aspects of Christmas, actually have very traditional and meaningful roots. For example: as many of you would know, "Santa Claus", was derived from the person Saint Nicolas, and part of the tradition of gift giving came from his acts of charity to the poor, and goodwill to all. He has been converted into an overweight, red-coated, commercial character, whose intentions, though they have good origins, are somewhat questionable in the modern world. Or the 'Christmas Colours' and decoration of the Christmas tree. Origins of this are very varied, from Luther, to other Christian historical figures. I found one such explanation that I found satisfactory, that of the 'Paradise Tree', part of the 'Paradise play'. The play was designed to represent the Garden of Eden, and, since apple trees (The tree of Good and Evil) were not available, the people of the 1300s used pine trees with apples hung on them. Even then, it was adopted by the private residences of many people, and became a Christmas tradition. Even good ol' Xmas, which is widely accepted as a commercial representation of Christmas, had good beginnings as a simple abbreviation. X (or Chi) is the twenty second letter of the Greek alphabet, and was commonly used to abbreviate "Christ". Indeed, Christmas has become too commercial.

Christmas is what we are and what we make it of it, not the commercial enterprise, not the church, not anyone or anything that foists the spirit on us to intrude upon our genuine self.

What brings on the fuzzy-wuzzy, schmaltzy feelings of soft humanity beneath the holly and mistletoe: the innocuous candles, inexpensive wine, the log cabin warmed by the dying ember in the fireplace, and lots of love and memories moved by the nostalgic strains of the timeless carols and hymns familiar.

Flanders summed it all up. It's all about family gathering. It's that one time of year when we all feel right, just right, gift wrapped in the glow of simple faith, hope and charity. Bah, Humbug! begone.

chirstmas is about of alot of things remembering the past and who was there to share it with you. Looking forward and who is going to share chirstmas with you next, what the year has brought. You think about what you went through that year and think next chirstmas is going to be different. you will always have your chirstmas that didn't work out and you will have a chirstmas that went wonderful. Chirstmas might be over rated and gone to far in some ways, but you are brought to grow up to think its wonderful. Its time for family to get together. To see that person that you haven't seen, to see that new baby, to see the boy/girl come back from school, to set on santas lap and tell him what you would like, and most of all to watch a young boy/girl that still beleives in santa and see there eyes glow and the big smile on there faces. Its about beleiving in that there in a God. I hope when you read this that something will come back to you and what you enjoyed. Sure you think shopping is nuts but when your with your family and look around and see that smile are here that laugh you think this is what Chirstmas is about. I hope this year will be the year you belevie again and that is my chirstmas gift to you . MERRY CHIRSTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

God how I hate Christmas. I've always hated Christmas, even as a child, forced to sit on the knee of an unemployable drunk with bad breathe in the local department store, just 'cos it was tradition. No thank you.

And the kitsch of Christmas how cheap and nasty it is, all probably nowadays made in China.

NO way will I celebrate this "season of good will". I wish no one "good will". "Humbug" is fine enough for the likes of me.

Christmas is crud.

Christmas is awesome. And if it is ablolisehed I will still celebrate it. Who cares what reasons we celebrate or what we choose to buy or not buy. Loosen up and enjoy life. Its not that serious.

It would be a really great thing for the economy if Christmas was actually abolished and all the priests and their ilk promoting it cast into prison, for deceiving the public.

Christmas "all about the family" bull excrement. It's all about making China richer from all the junk badly made goods we will import from her this Xmas. It's all about making some people, importers, very very rich.

Soon all the workers in this country will be on the dole unable to find work, which you lot will have all given away to the far east.

O me god!
I can't believe you people!

Christmas is all about family!

We havnt got a tele, we are not religious in any way, Ive just sent off for a hotel brochure for next christmas as we are fed up with being ripped off, sold junk, having left over food, buying drinks for relatives you havnt seen since last year and we are supposed to enjoy it? We are all lemmings because we are frightened into NOT enjoying ourselves for fear of what the neighbours think.........or the grandchildren!!

Christmas 2006

It was my son first christmas but wife has flu my son has a cold and to make things worse a old family memeber turn up christmas day and caused problems. I am 35 now and I remember christmas has a child to be good,a day when everyone made the effort to enjoy themselves. Now has a adult I find myself to not be bothered by It all. Of course for my son sake in the future I will course do all that I can so he enjoys it. I find that christmas has become boring, I dont belive in God etc so the day has no meaning there. So what christmas means to me I suppose Is looking back at the past. Someone ask me the other day, do you feel like Its christmas, I said what should it feel like. Perhaps you are reading this thinking I am a sad moanng git, well probley I am.

the people- christmas has gotten very commercial because all they want you to do is buy things and children are getting to spoilt because they ask for very expensive gifts and nearly always get them so we should calm the adverts down a little.
I ask for alot of things at christmas but don't always get them but I havn't been brought up to get everything I want so there you go

Hope it helps xxx

Hi my team and I are doung a debate on this christams is too comercial and we are affirmative and were all 11 so can any one help us out