Is it OK to cash-in on Christmas?

-

Can Christmas and business go together?







It's December. Christmas is almost here. But let's be real, the Christmas buzz has been around for weeks, if not months. Decorations go up in early November. Stores begin offering Christmas deals soon after. Coca-Cola Santa, Christmas songs playing nonstop in supermarkets (my condolences to anyone who works in retail), it begins to look a lot like Christmas long before the 25th of December.

This is something that has irritated me for years. Christmas is my favourite holiday, a great time of the year. But it's more than just an excuse to get presents and eat nice food. As a Christian, Christmas is a significant celebration; it's a time to commemorate the birth of Jesus. The fact that our society has reduced Christmas to nothing more than a commercial event, which is all show with little substance, is something that irks me.

However, this isn't a black-or-white issue. People need to buy decorations, cards and gifts for Christmas, and someone has to sell them. There's nothing wrong with having a 'special holiday sale' or putting up decorations before Christmas. If an important leader, such as a president or king, was visiting your city or home, surely, you'd make the place look nice before their arrival? If people would make such a fuss over celebrating an earthly leader,  surely it makes sense to make a fuss over a celebration of the Heavenly Leader?

A business is an entity which provides solutions to people's needs and wants. People want things for Christmas, and businesses provide things for Christmas. It's simple supply and demand. Consumers get their Christmas goodies and businesses rake in some money. That's a win-win in my book.

If respect for Christmas as a religious holiday is maintained, having a commercial element surrounding Christmas is actually a good thing. Unfortunately, Christmas is often regarded as a merely secular affair, a time for show. But even so, certain products of the season might lead people to find out more about Christmas, even if it's simply out of curiosity. Why do we put up Christmas trees with a star or angel on top? Why do we have Advent calendars? Such questions may lead people to learn more about the true meaning of Christmas and appreciate the holiday in a new way. 

So for all those celebrating Christmas, let's appreciate the religious significance of the holiday and have a good time. The two can go together.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

My 25 Predictions for the next 25 years: From 2025 to 2050 (Part I)

-
Image
 Nuclear fusion, lab-grown beef, trillionaires...and more! Bonjour, tout le monde. It's 2025. We're halfway through the 2020's and a quarter-way through the 21st Century. In my opinion, life on Earth is still a bit...normal. Now, that's not a bad thing. Life's good for a lot of people. I'm grateful for life. But I'd have imagined that 2025 would feel more...futuristic. Where are the lunar bases? Where are the flying skateboards? Yes, we've had a few major developments over the past few years, such as the emergence of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the public sphere, but it would be cool if we got some more futuristic technology or development. I thought I'd write a post with 25 things I think will happen by 2050. Now, I'm not a scientist. I mean, * ahem* I have a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Economics, so I'm  technically  a  social  scientist  (who cares?) , but my predictions don't have much empirical evidence to support them...
Read more

My 25 Predictions for the next 25 years: From 2025 to 2050 (Part II)

-
Image
From three-day weekends to holographic technology, the future has a lot of potential. I'm back! I wrote a blog post a while back on 10 things I think will happen by 2050 (In case you haven't read it, you can do so  here ).  So here's a list of 10 more of my predictions for the next 25 years. 11. A four-day work week will become the norm in several organisations worldwide. As a result of multiple factors, including an increasing shift to working remotely and demands from various labour and employment groups, companies and organisations have experimented with a four-day work week model. Studies have shown promising results, with observed improvements in mental and physical health, as well as stress reduction. The idea is still very much in its infancy, but a lot can change in 25 years. By 2050, we may just see a global shift towards a four-day work week, which entails a three-day weekend. Sign me up! 12. Anti-AI Trade Unions will be widespread. People have already begun to vo...
Read more

Raila Odinga: The Man who Cared

-
Image
 Paying my respects to a Kenyan legend. On October 15th 2025, Raila Odinga passed away at the age of 80. His death was a blow to Kenyans. Raila Amolo Odinga was not just a politician. He wasn't just a Prime Minister.  He was a maverick. A fighter. A hero.  As a Kenyan Gen Z who hails from the same region of Kenya as Raila (Siaya county), I know some things about him, but not a whole lot. The first time I heard about him was when my parents and a friend were discussing the 2007 elections (I was four years old at the time). I'm not old enough to remember how Raila was in his political prime; but from what I've heard from my parents, he was a force to be reckoned with.  Raila was the son of the late Jaramogi Oginga Odinga. Jaramogi was a key player in Kenya's struggle for independence and became Kenya's first Vice President. The phrase "like father, like son" clearly applied to Raila. He was a strong advocate for a multi-party political system, which seemed l...
Read more