Commercialism and Christmas: You Set the Tone

by Tristi Pinkston | More from this Blogger

This time of year, we are always presented with a dilemma: how do we celebrate Christmas without getting too caught up the commercialism? Many great blogs have been posted on this very topic here on Families.com, and I link to some of them below, but I couldn't let the season go past without putting in my two cents. You know I'm not known for being quiet.

In my community, I've heard commercialism spoken of like some looming monster that we can't avoid. Often the comments sound helpless, as though we are forced to partake of all the heathen traditions and can't celebrate the way we choose. I wish to interject a note of hopefulness into this seemingly desperate situation: you can celebrate Christmas any way you want!

Yes, the stores are full of Santas and candy, toys and wrapping paper, jewelry and roller blades and cars. The television is replete with commercials for this "must-have" item and that "can't-live-without" device. The marvelous thing is that we can choose for ourselves to what extend we participate in the hype. If we want to go all out and shop until we drop, the resources are there for us to do so. If we decide to purchase moderately this year, we can do that too. We can buy Santa decorations or Nativity décor, or both. We can scrap the holiday altogether and go skiing instead. No one is making us celebrate in their prescribed way. It's all right to say no!

We love to celebrate a Christ-centered Christmas in our home, and so that is what we do. As the parents in our family, my husband and I set the tone for the holiday. We sing Christmas hymns, we read from the Scriptures on Christmas Eve, telling the story of the Christ Child, and we emphasize that He is our Savior and it is Him we celebrate. As we exchange gifts, we remind the children that we are symbolizing the gift God gave to us, and that as we serve one another, we are serving Him.

Yes, we get bombarded when we step outside the door, but in our own homes and our own hearts, we can celebrate the season any way we like.

Related Blogs:

Five Ways to Focus on the True Meaning of Christmas

Using Secular Tradition to Glorify God: Christmas

Putting Christ Back in Christmas

Family Home Evening: Christmas in the Book of Mormon

Stake Activity: Creche Exhibit

Learn more about Tristi Pinkston

I am a stay-at-home mom, author of eight published books, a freelance editor, and the mother of four incredible children. I enjoy scrapbooking, watching good movies, and taking naps.

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