Commercializationjust fine with me

Counting today, there are just three shopping days left until Christmas. Depending on what time you?re reading this column, you likely have between 72 and 48 hours to make those final all-important purchases.

The mention of such a countdown makes some folks cringe, and not because there?s a mad dash to the store in their future. As Christmas creeps closer, and the closets of America groan with gifts, it?s time for an annual holiday tradition.

It?s the time of year when writers and commentators speak out against the commercialization of Christmas. The truckloads of gifts are bad, they say. We?ve forgotten the true meaning of Christmas, they claim.

Fortunately, I don?t subscribe to that philosophy. I?m a firm believer that gift giving is a healthy and enjoyable act ? and I don?t think for a second that folks have forgotten the reason for the season.

The birth of Jesus Christ to the virgin Mary is the cornerstone of Christianity and a miracle of which most people are well aware. I don?t see any harm in giving gifts ? lots of gifts ? on Christmas and I can tell you a great many reasons why.

Probably the most straightforward reason giving gifts is good is because people enjoy it. Over the years, Gallop polls have shown that well over 90 percent of Americans say Christmas is their favorite holiday. Giving and receiving presents is always cited as a large reason why.

I may be simplifying this argument way too much, but I like opening presents. My kids do too. And so does my wife. We applaud the commercialization of Christmas in the Clark household.

It?s important to note that celebrating Christmas in grand fashion isn?t a recent phenomenon. It dates back well over 1,000 years.

In the early 300s, the birth of Jesus was celebrated with a day-long feast for the entire Roman Empire. That?s about the time stories of the fabled St. Nicholas began circulating.

As legend has it, St. Nicholas walked on water to save a sailor who had fallen overboard. He took pity on poverty stricken families and would reward children who behaved well with treats.

In the 700s, evergreen trees made their way into homes in Germany as part of the winter solstice festival. The first Christmas tree didn?t make its way into the White House until the presidency of Franklin Pierce in 1856, but by that time the commercialization of Christmas was well under way.

Christmas cards got their origin in 1843, and Santa Claus made his way to his first department store in 1881 in the city of Philadelphia. Folks ready to clamor about the commercialization of Christmas better find themselves a time machine because this is no new novelty.

The reason it?s not new is because people enjoy celebrations, whether they live in America or Argentina. We have created holidays in every quarter of the calendar because giving gifts and having cookouts and getting together with friends and family members is fun.

We like to shop and retailers like it too. Why else would people get up at 5 a.m. to stand outside a store the day after Thanksgiving?

Admittedly, Christmas has become a glut of ribbons and wrapping paper. It may be about relish and recliners, but that doesn?t mean we?ve forgotten religion.

There?s more than one reason the holidays are so special. The birth of Jesus is no doubt one of them, but so is giving gifts and spending time with family.

Maybe we should all come to grips with the fact there is more than one reason we all like the holiday season.

James Clark is editor of the Standard. He can be reached at 473-2191 or by e-mail at [email protected].