“Christmas is coming and the tills are getting fat
Please put a penny in the storekeeper’s hat
If you haven’t got a penny
A credit card will do
If you haven’t got a credit card
Then what you gonna do”?
Could this be a new 21st century shopping mantra or a “Bah! Humbug!” Scrooge-like criticism of the modern approach to Christmas?
Years ago Christmas shopping consisted of “getting in” the ingredients for the Christmas Day dinner itself plus a few extra special bits for the days before and after; a few choice presents along with a stocking containing fruit, nuts, a new penny and some sweets for the kiddies. The tree was put up and decorated along with a few paper garlands which might have been handmade. A sprig or two of holly and some fir-cones sprayed or glittered in true Blue Peter fashion completed the decorations and that was that.
Folk opened their prezzies; maybe went to church; ate lunch; watched the Queen’s speech and then dozed in front of the TV or a nice fire. Enjoying a nice relaxed day with family and friends.
Nowadays, in spite of the recession – or maybe because of it; there seems to be a mad frenzied attempt to empty shelves (and wallets) before Christmas, and as soon as Christmas Day is over then The World and His Wife are heading off to the Boxing Day sales! Is this the fault of advertising; easily acquired credit; our materialistic society or what? Maybe a combination of all of these things is true.
The religious meaning of Christmas is still there for many people, hidden amongst the wrapping paper and tinsel but somehow we all seem to get caught up in the advertiser’s hype of the perfect day; whereas very often this day consists of a tired, cross cook; overtired and fractious children and overfed, hung-over adults wondering when they can go and change their totally unsuitable gifts for something they really want!
Perhaps we all need to take a step back, stop and think of the real reason for our celebrations and make everything a lot simpler and less stressful. A Christmas where our thoughts are of people not things and where we are content to let the spirit of Christmas be in tune with the words of Tiny Tim in Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” ~
“God Bless Us, Every One!”
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Great article! Christams is a very stressful time of year for many people and for many different reasons. I think so many people do forget about the true meaning of Christmas. It isn’t about gifts and spending money we don’t have to spend or getting the perfect gift. It is about our wonderful Lord and Savior. Thanks for posting!
I love the idea of using weeds! I’ve used pinecones as decorations in all sorts of ways before, but had never thought of
tying them on presents… I’ll have to start searching around in nature for gift wrapping ideas!
I recently had to buy for college students on my christmas shopping list and I went to campus den and found great deals on tees, affordable and great for any student.