'All I Want for Christmas is... - The Reality of the Festive Build Up
Posted on 23rd November 2014
Christmas is really not "just around the corner"...for big business [however] it is still the perfect time to implant in our minds the needs of the festive period; ingredients for Christmas dinner, decorations for the house, not to mention presents for all your family members and friends.
...FOR PEOPLE TO CALM DOWN ABOUT IT'. For people to stop getting so hyped up about Christmas jumpers selling cheaply at Primark, for people to realise that it’s not even December yet and that Christmas is really not "just around the corner". By all means, call me the second Scrooge, but surely I cannot be the only one who thinks that the traditions of Christmas are being welcomed far too early.
I remember it being as early as October when Christmas trees were being sold, the M&S Christmas biscuits were being held on offer, and catalogues were being posted through the door on a daily basis to remind Christmas lovers of what gifts their kids would definitely fall in love with as soon as the wrapping paper was torn off. In reality - the toys are probably played with for a day to keep their parents happy, and then they’re tossed aside the next day alongside with the wrapping paper.
It had not even passed Halloween and people still had the fifth of November to look forward to, do we need to be reminded of Christmas in early October? Costumes and candy for ‘Trick or Treaters’ still need to be bought; paying for the fireworks display still needs be done.
However, for big business it is still the perfect time to implant in our minds the needs of the festive period; ingredients for Christmas dinner, decorations for the house, not to mention presents for all your family members and friends. Don’t worry though, you'll just have been reminded to pop down to your local M&S and buy their biscuits which are currently two tins for £6 - that’ll save some money.
Only joking, money won’t really be saved. Ingredients for the Christmas dinner, including starters, pudding and snacks, still have to be bought for a swarm of hungry guests. Again, not to worry, just eat at the nearest pub which offers a Christmas dinner deal and make sure that everyone just pays for themselves. That’ll save you money, and the effort of having to cook and wash up for yourself.
The tradition of Christmas is rapidly being lost. Is it ironic that the parties are held inside every household to celebrate Jesus’ birthday, and yet he’s the one figure who’s completely ignored? Jesus is the reason for this "season to be jolly", yet he’s overlooked by Santa, Rudolph, the elves, and a long lasting list of fictional Christmas characters. It appears that nowadays, all we seem to care about is what we are expecting to be waiting for us under the tree. Whilst we’re full of greed and making it imperative that we must have the latest gadgets or the coolest shoes yet, what gifts does Jesus often receive? Pure ignorance. I’m not a Christian, but the new tradition of Christmas seems to be one of pure materialism.
However, I support the John Lewis advert. Once the snowman and snowgirl are built by the young girl, the snowman gazes into the snowgirl’s eyes, stretching out his smile. Meanwhile, the snowgirl does not reciprocate. To make her happy, a long, hard journey is set ahead for the snowman determined to make her jubilant just so that she can return the smile to him.
The girl who built the snow figures opens her curtains on Christmas day, greeted with the sight of both the snowman and snowgirl. The only difference now, is that the snowgirl is wrapped warmly with a scarf and the smile has now been flashed. Despite the snowman’s smile also being present, he receives nothing in return. For me, the message being given is that gifts are the only element that makes people happy on Christmas day. What was the point in buying the snowgirl a scarf, anyway? Winter will be over and she’ll soon melt. That’ll teach her a lesson for being so selfish. Not only do Christmas adverts, advent calendars and Christmas wish lists come too early, but so do the Costa Coffee Christmas cups, the annoying Christmas songs and the decorations making their way down the attic. The only thing that doesn’t come early enough is the Christmas holidays!
Sophie Shen - Student Voice Team
Picture-http://www.keepcalm-o-matic.co.uk/p/keep-calm-its-only-november-2/