Have We Lost the True Meaning of Christmas?

Nowadays, as everyone is witness to and most definitely guilty of in one form or another, the Christmas season in particular has become all about commerce. In a way, it is a 'do this, get that, buy me this, I want that' season instead of what the true meaning of Christmas was originally about. The celebration of the birth of Christ. I won't preach to anyone ever what Christmas meant to me as a child, or what it means to me now, however, I will write about some of the horrors that have come from a season that claims to be one full of merriness, togetherness and family.

The Car Syndrome

The Car Syndrome, as I call it, encompasses two main aspects involving cars. The first of these is known as the parking lot fiasco- known to happen especially on black friday (for those unfamiliar with the term, that's the day after Thanksgiving in the US where hopefully companies go into the 'black' - or make a huge profit). You would be shocked to hear the number of fender benders that happen in mall lots normally, but at Christmas time the numbers skyrocket. While I can't give an exact estimate, I will simply state that for the day after Thanksgiving there were numerous police calls to the local Wal-Mart because of accidents happening. People tend to become very competative when it comes to finding a parking spot as close to the store or mall as possible. This way they can carry a lot to the car because they don't have too far to go. Let me just say it's WORTH parking farther away. You can always push a cart out and to your car as well as get assistance if you have more than one cart full of goods and only one person to haul. It is entirely true, as most of you know, that people drive around in circles and end up parking only one or two more spaces closer to the store than the one they had five to ten minutes ago. Sadly, this is also the season of not signaling and whipping too fast into spots. Let this be a friendly reminder: If someone is signaling to go into a spot, it's entirely impolite and just "jerkish" to steal a spot. Parking closer doesn't mean a guarantee of goods wanted being purchased. I'm sure anyone with a vehicle would love to avoid dents and scratches on their cars from congested parking lots just as much as they would like to avoid a screaming match (which DOES happen) when someone loses a parking spot in an unfair manner. This aggression is road rage.

The second of the car syndrome is simply known as traffic. Yes, at this time of year the traffic is downright horrible. This is a fact we all have to accept as major routes to stores become entirely conjested with people going to and heading home from shopping. Add into this mixture those who are out at night driving about ten to fifteen miles under the speed limit to take in the christmas lights and you have pandemonium. Of course you have those who run through red lights and stop signs normally, but if you pay attention closely during shopping season, you'll notice a lot more of these actions, as one car goes through, there's a good chance one more if they're close behind will chance it. Thinking that running red lights or stop signs is all right and meaning you can get to that parking spot faster is just insane. You don't need to cause an accident or be involved in one. Be courteous and pay attention. You don't want to not make it to Christmas or have the guilt of some child missing christmas because of greed or plain idiocy. This can be multiplied as treacherous if you try to speed or pull any red light stunts in icy or snowy weather. Be reasonable and keep your eyes open. Getting to the store is not a race and should not be treated as one.

Shopping Carts

Now you may be wondering, "what does a shopping cart have to do with Christmas and the lost meaning..?" That's fine. I'll explain and you'll more than likely understand completely, if not share in this unfortunate "evilness" of Christmas.This comes from personal experience, mind you. It's also the main reason why I avoid most stores during Christmastime unless it's absolutely required I go in order to get something I, or someone else, need. I had gone into a department store to get one item. Yes, one small item that didn't require me having a shopping cart.
I got into a relatively short line and waited in turn until there were only two people ahead of me in line. Then it happened. An over-stuffed cart rolled up behind me and the woman started dropping items on the conveyer belt. When it was full for her section, she got back behind the cart and rammed it into my shins. Yes. I stopped a cart in a truly superman stopping a train sort of way. Now I was in disbelief and slightly sore, so I politely mentioned to the woman she hit me. I was given a response of, "So what?" And I turned back around. Then it happened again. This time harder. I nearly fall into the man ahead of me. If I had he'd probably taken it as some sort of sexual advance because who knows what I'd grab onto in order to prevent falling down. Luckily, I balanced. I turned around again and mentioned to her to please be careful with the cart because she's hit me twice. She rolls her eyes and rummages through the little under a dollar display items by the checkout. I figure twice was just going to be it, but, when it happened a third time, I was ready to draw blood. The man in front of me wasn't amused either, because the woman had started lipping off and shouting, "hurry up!" in a loud and utterly annoying voice.
Thankfully, everyone got through finally and we got away from the pain in the backside. This woman didn't care that people were ahead of her, nor did she want to respect the fact that others were in line waiting, too. She merely wanted her things then and there for whatever reason and she actually didn't care if she hurt anybody in the meantime. Let me just say that this is one way to ruin the season for anyone. Being in line does not mean you have rights over any other person in line. Thankfully I didn't bruise too much, but, it's made me swear off going into stores.

Greed

Greed is the worst. I remember as a child being somewhat envious of those kids who got video game consoles for christmas or more than one doll. In fact, I'm still envious of those who are willing to spend over 500 dollars for a nintendo wii or xbox 360. I don't get the rush of it, they will go down in price, but to each their own. However, it seems that children have lost the true meaning of christmas almost as much as adults - if not more. This is a horrible thing to realize.

However, I witnessed it.

This was online, thankfully, however, the picture painted was almost screaming Veruca Salt. The girl only said one long thing, about how she told her parents that she demanded a new computer, cell phone AND new top of the line digital camera for christmas or she would make it known to them how unhappy she was. Now, back when I was young, if I tried that my christmas rights would be destroyed wholly and there wouldn't be a holiday for me. Plus my father might've pulled a Homer Simpson on my neck. "Why you little--!!" Death by greed isn't on my list ever for Christmas.

This got me thinking. About my one excursion this year into a department store and how you often hear about fights breaking out over toys (Such as when Playstation 3 came out or Tickle Me Elmo X) and I can't help but see this total immaturity and lack of human respect as nothing more than pure greed. What we give or buy for someone should not ever, in any way, be a reflection of how much we love someone. The more expensive the gift does not equate more love. In fact, I'm happy if a friend just gives me a warm hug and wishes me a happy christmas. To be thought of and loved that way has been a far better gift for me - along with seeing some of my friends and family I don't normally get to see throughout the year.

People getting cars bothers me more, though, truth be told. Especially when you know you're only getting one or two gifts under your tree due to money conditions and on christmas morning some person down the street has a brand new car outside with a ribbon on it. I remember watching something recently on television where a girl said, "We buy each other cars because that's how we show love for each other. Buying stuff."

I think the worst thing of anything greed-wise is when people talk about how much they spend at christmas. This is like discussing pay at work. Inappropriate and inconsiderate. Nobody enjoys hearing you're well off and you can throw money about freely and not flinch. Greed, in my eyes, has all but destroyed the true meaning of christmas.
We see advertisements everywhere, especially on television. Countdowns to christmas, store sales, special offers. We are overdosing in commercialism at christmastime and not a one truly even reflects a hint of what the day is supposed to mean. I won't say I'm not guilty of being lured into the spirit of buying, however, I don't make it a life goal to get the most and the best every christmas because it's status quo.

People need to remember what the holiday is about - even if they aren't religious. It's about respecting each other, showing love and compassion for those less fortunate and for reminding us of what we have currently - not what we are possibly going to receive on December 25th. We need to look around us, at our family and friends and realize that they being there are the best present anybody could ever ask for.