X-mas Is No Longer Christmas

By Alex McArthy

Slowly but surely, Christmas is becoming more commercial and less, well, Christmas.
Christians first started getting into the Christmas spirit during Advent, the 3-4 weeks prior to Dec. 25. After the commercialization of the holiday and economic boom in the U.S. after the end of WWII, people could begin to get great deals on shopping the day after Thanksgiving, now known as Black Friday.

Each year, it seems stores and corporations roll out the Christmas displays just a little bit earlier. First Christmas season came before Thanksgiving, then at the beginning of November. This year I was shocked to see a Christmas display at Chicago Ridge Mall BEFORE Halloween. What’s next – Christmas in July? I’ve also already been hearing Christmas music in shopping malls as well.

Christmas has developed an entire billion dollar industry. One can see this when very popular products like Xbox 360 and Playstation 3 were released at the height of Christmas shopping season. Each year, companies put out the “need to have” Christmas presents.
You may be asking “What’s the big deal? What’s so bad about more Christmas?” With that commercialization has come the feeling that gifts need to be exchanged, and a common misconception that Christmas without presents is not Christmas, something that affects poor and impoverished children more than anyone else.

The typical “Hallmark” Christmas has taken away from its true meaning the birth of Christ. This is fine for those who do not believe, and still want to celebrate. The only problem is the movement has pushed itself, and found its way into the Christian celebration as well. It has come to the point that by the time Christmas actually comes, I am tired of the advertisements, the decorations and even the music. The early Christmas overshadows holidays like Thanksgiving, and now Halloween. But most importantly, it takes away from Christmas’ true meaning.

Alex McArthy is a sophomore political science major from St. Louis, Missouri. He is an RHA National Communications Coordinator, president of the Cougar Crazies, a Public Safety supervisor and an SXU Student Ambassador. Consideration for the student bloggers is provided by Saint Xavier University.