Ho ho ho?

It's happening again and I don't like it. In fact, I hate it. I just saw another Christmas commercial as I was walking past the family room, and it makes me glad that I don't watch tv. The theme of the commercial? "What I want for Christmas." Don't get me wrong, I love Christmas. I love the holidays, the food, the music, my family, giving gifts, and so forth, but I hate the commercial aspect that has been dumped upon us. Notice that I mentioned giving gifts and not receiving gifts. Sure, it's nice to get a gift from a friend, or to see a sign of someone's love or affection, but it's not about getting gifts, it's about giving to others and serving. Several years ago my family stopped exchanging gifts. We may give each other a small trinket or something, but we no longer buy each other large presents. Instead, we all go shopping together and use the money that we would have spent on each other and buy gifts for the less fortunate, for the poor, and the homeless. I find it to be much more rewarding, and I love the tradition.

I just think it's sad that Christmas has somehow changed, and now it's all about two things for most people: 1) What I want for Christmas, and 2) the importance of believing in a fictional character. All the new Christmas specials seem to be about getting presents, or BELIEEEEVING in Santa! You must BELIEEEEEEEEVE!!! It's lametacular.

I guess I can understand how a holiday based on Christ's birth could have morphed into a celebration of peace on Earth and goodwill towards men (though I don't necessarily support it 100%) since it all goes back to love, of which Christ was the perfect example, but how do you make the jump to a celebration of worldly possessions and human greed?
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