We Do Not Overvalue The True Meaning Of Christmas

You should measure your wealth not in money, but in who and what you are lucky enough to posses. In “A Christmas Carol”, Ebenezer Scrooge is an elderly, lonely and pessimistic man who cares about nothing more than his money. However, while experiencing 3 separate encounters with 3 Christmas ghosts, he evolves into something different. Some might say he is a Santa Claus-like character by the end; jolly, caring and most of all, grateful. Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol”, adapted by Israel Horovitz Scrooge teaches readers that you should not determine your prosperity in money, but by what you are blessed enough to fill your life with.

Ah Christmas, it is said to be the most wonderful time of the year. In the United States Christmas is a time of giving and receiving, spending time with your family, and in most Christian families, celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ. Christmas is hands-down the most highly commercialized holiday celebrated by Americans. In fact, according to CBS news, the average American will spend $700 on gifts this holiday season, totaling for a whopping $465 billion spent nation-wide. From mall Santas as far as the eye can see, to hearing Christmas music in every retail store you enter. Christmas is a time of high spirits and high spending in the U.S.

‘What else can I be,’ returned the uncle, ‘when I live in such a world of fools as this? Merry Christmas! Out upon merry Christmas! What’s Christmas time to you but a time for paying bills without money; a time for finding yourself a year older, but not an hour richer; a time for balancing your books and having every item in ‘em through a round dozen of months presented dead against you? If I could work my will,’ said Scrooge, indignantly, ‘every idiot who goes about with ‘Merry Christmas,’ on his lips, should be boiled with his own pudding, and buried with a stake of holly through his heart. He should!” (Dickens, 5-6). This quote shows that Scrooge believes Christmas is a nuisance in that, despite being

Christmas is an international holiday that is beloved by many. I, however, see Christmas for what it really is. It isn’t some festive love fest that celebrates the birth of Jesus; Christmas is an allusion. Christmas has pulled the wool over the eyes of many by presenting the temptation of gifts, therefore making them oblivious to the true meaning behind the holiday. Christmas has betrayed its lineage, it has lost sight of its purpose, and it is denouncing the powerful meanings and messages for future generations to come. This holiday has been around for centuries and over the years it has become a façade and has found a way to hide what it truly stands for.

I happened upon an online CNN article titled Why kindness matters even more after Thanksgiving and Christmas (2015), in which the author Kevin Powell examined the notion that people tend to be generous during these two holiday’s. Yet, he pondered and rhetorically posed the question as to why the spirit of giving and caring is less throughout the year leading up to the major holiday season. I will explore why I believe the perceived perspective of this article was theism, why this is in alignment with my beliefs, and how it correlates to a Christian worldview. The article was very inspirational, and brings to light the current situations going on in society to help provide a context of... In a world where news stories can seem to be a revolving

First, as more and more religions have started and increased in popularity, Christmas has adjusted. However, none of the new religions have ever wanted to stop Christmas. In ‘Christmas Is Not Just For Christians’ by Siddique, A Hindu, named Ramalingam stated, "I don't know anyone who actually wants to ban Christmas and most Hindus and Muslims that I know actually celebrate Christmas (Siddique 1).” Instead, they volunteer to work at the Christian charities so that the Christians can celebrate Christmas (Siddique p.1). This

Christmas. Its that time of the year where we celebrate the birth of Christ but for some reason, we give each other gifts. Maybe it’s in hopes our good deeds will be a good thing and Jesus is smiling at all of us, pleased at our holiday spirit. So to stay in that spirit without causing struggle for people, there is only one thing that I ask for this year, food.

Christmas is the annual festival celebrating the birth of Jesus on the 25th December, at least that is what it began as initially. Since it has expanded into an international phenomenon for consumption, taking priority over our everyday practices of life (Michel De Certeau, 1980). Our time we spend divided between work and leisure in accordance to the codes and conventions of society shifts, Christmas derails these expectations. Yet surprisingly Christmas gains little attention in terms of social research, despite the fact that it can be explored diversely. The inquiry ‘What is Christmas?’ links to multiple aspects of social research. The aspects of Christmas can be subdivided into the following; religion, commercialism, gift-giving, social relationships, sensualism and mythology. This essay will analyse these fundamentals of Christmas through both psychological and sociological perspectives, as the theories among these two social sciences are best suited to the elements which make up Christmas itself.

One can almost cut through the irony of hearing Bing Crosby sing “It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas” on the radio when the temperature is sixty and the first frost of winter is still weeks away. As citizens of the United States in this day and age, people are most likely all too accustomed with this typical rush promoted between important festivities. It’s exclusively about generating maximum revenue for the large corporations as frantic shoppers attempt to assuage their stress through hour upon hour of incessant shopping; arising in our society today, an important question of whether or not this avaricious behavior communicates total loss of understanding as to what the true meaning of the season represents. In my opinion, some

Many people celebrate Christmas differently. Some focus on presents. Some focus on giving and their family. But what does it really mean? Christmas really means “Christ’s Mass” and celebrates the approximate birth of Jesus Christ. Today’s Christmas has been secularized, and even though it’s still sometimes celebrated with thanking Christ and being with family, it has become quite a commerical holiday. In these times of anti-theism and secularism, we need to remember what Christmas is all about, Jesus Christ, through the prophecies of the Old Testament.

Christmas means more of Christ. This can go into the true meaning of the holiday. The true meaning of Christmas can be found in the book of Luke. The story begins when the angel, Gabriel, appeared to Mary and told her [31] “You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus.[32] He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High.[33] And he will reign over Israel, his kingdom will never end” (“Luke 2:31-33 NLT Bible”)! Although Mary was a virgin, the Holy Spirit would provide the child. Later in Luke, Jesus was born in Bethlehem. Jesus was a man, the only one who had never sinned. He later died on the cross and cleansed us of our sins. Because God gave his son, Jesus was God’s gift to the world. America today

Christmas is a practice from American culture; it marks the birthday of Jesus Christ. This holiday is celebrated because to remind people who celebrate this holiday to gift love and happiness. It is celebrated mostly by Christians due to their beliefs of Christ. The reason that every kid wants to celebrate this holiday is the factor of free presents. The truth is that a lot of kids do not even know that it is the birth of Jesus Christ. Christmas Day is celebrated as a major festival and public holiday in countries around the world, including many whose populations are mostly non-Christian. In some non-Christian areas, periods of former colonial rule introduced the celebration like in Hong Kong and Japan, where Christmas is popular despite

Many children are taught that Christmas is when you receive gifts from others, but what they don’t find much joy in doing is giving, instead. Whether it costs money or not, it does not matter, it’s the thought that counts. Imagine comparing the joy a homeless person would have compared to a child while receiving clothes, the child would probably frown since they were most likely expecting a toy and the homeless person would be overjoyed since they barely have anything. We have to give thanks for what we have, so we may help to serve those of us who have nearly nothing. To help out those in need, or maybe not even those in need, we may do a variety of things, a few examples I thought of could

Christmas is the most generous time of year. A simple act of kindness can go a long way and can even change a life. The gift of giving to those in need is beyond rewarding. Some families are less fortunate and unable to provide Christmas presents for their children. Every child deserves to enjoy the holidays. My church, First Baptist Church of Lakeside, will host its annual toy drive for those less fortunate.

First of all, let me applaud the myriad of people involved behind the scenes because there are several things I noticed that set this movie apart from the typical Hallmark holiday fare. I congratulate the writer (Jennifer Notas Shapiro), the director (Bradley Walsh), and the production team (Brad Krevoy) for stepping outside the box to make a Christmas film that is singularly delightful and diverse in scope and story while still maintaining the elements of Hallmark holiday films that we love. At the end of the day, it is about following your dreams and passions even if it is not the easiest path. Additionally, it is about making sacrifices for that one person who complements you to perfection. Family and friends always surpass monetary success, societal influence, and consequential supremacy. Even though this tale does not take place in a small town (it actually happens in the heart of Manhattan!), the film celebrates family values, nurturing community, and old-fashioned values in a delightfully entertaining way.