Staff Editorial

In the age of overconsumption and materialism, the true meaning of Christmas has been lost. From Christmas lists 100 items long to 20-minute gift hauls, the focus of Christmas has been shifted in the wrong direction.

During the Christmas season, major brands and retailers capitalize on the holidays as a way to make more profit due to the excess of material items being bought as gifts. While gift-giving and receiving can bring joy, the focus should be on spending time with family and friends. Think about it— our favorite Christmases were the ones that we got to spend with our extended family. This time spent with family should be valued, not taken for granted. 

An aspect of Christmas that can not be forgotten is Jesus’ birth. Presents and holiday festivities tend to blindside the real reason why we celebrate, which is to honor our Lord and Savior. While it can be easy to go through the motions—attending Mass and opening presents—it’s crucial to remember the true meaning of Christmas. We would not be able to celebrate without our faith.

The spirit of Christmas wouldn’t feel the same without the lights, hot cocoa and traditions. These small aspects make Christmas feel special while still allowing room to remember why we celebrate. From driving around and looking at Christmas lights to playing board games with your family by the fire, the traditions spent with the ones you love most truly make the season memorable. 

For many people, Christmas is one of the only times that their family is able to gather. With packed schedules, sports and school, quality time is hard to come by. This makes the time shared even more valuable. With that being said, the younger family members tend to look up to the older ones and view them as role models. The best way to show your younger family members that you truly appreciate them is by giving them the gift of your uninterrupted time. They appreciate it more than you would know. 

Christmas should never be about waking up to presents and filming hauls for the world to see. Showing off your gifts, no matter how big or small, is an overall no for us. It takes away from the importance of giving back and spending time with family. Hauls and gift lists focus on material items rather than community and religion.

Christmas without your family isn’t Christmas at all. Instead of focusing on the presents and gift slideshows this holiday season, spend a little extra time with your loved ones and be grateful that we all get to join together and celebrate. After all, you will never remember all of the gifts you received, but what you will remember are the people you share the memories with.