Friday 29 October 2010

Early Christmas Season?

Does anyone else find it odd that we're still in October, comming up on Haloween, and already we find Christmas decorations in every shopping centre and supermarket?

It's the tendrils of Consumerism stretching forth with the hidden message: "time to start spending again". While the world considers the survival of Mankind, Haiti fights colera, Brazil decides between authoritarianism and democracy and while we ponder the truth behind every new scandal in the Church, shouldn't we also pause a moment to think what Christmas really is?

I find it distasteful that Christmas has been turned into a purely commercial holliday. IT'S NOT! It is supposed to be the celebration of the good news of our redemption through Christ. It is Christ's birthday party. Shouldn't He receive the gifts then?

I've entered a family-wide pact not to give presents a couple of years ago, and it feels great. Instead, we work on making a joint banquet, sharing it in the family and going to mass together. We look onto ourselves and the things we have pursued througout the year, and then we vow to correct the wrongs we've perpetrated and improve on the good that we've done.

I wish governments would do so.

No comments: