Once upon a time the image that christmas conjured in my mind was; a cold December day, the whole family round for dinner, food, drinks, laughs, smiles and love. The older I get the reality of what christmas is, is becoming obvious and obviously exhausting. While working in retail I was exposed to christmas from September; even before halloween merchandise was being sold we had the christmas offers out and about around the shop.
Although I still have a fond feeling towards christmas every year, that fondness is slowly replaced by a loathing of this time of year. The christmas spirit as I grew up knowing has been replaced by the spirit of materialism, because think of it this way, when you encourage the notion of santa claus, you encourage gifts. Santa claus has become the epitome of consumerism, Christmas is known as a time of socially accepted over indulging and you can only successfully over indulge if you are prepared to pay for it.
So we all know that santa isn't real, if you didn't, spoiler alert and welcome to the real world. But the notion of santa is one that encourages social conformity amongst young believers, if you are told, santa gives good kids presents and naughty kids coal, you sure as well won't be a little shit; because apparently no one wants coal for christmas, unless you a smoker. When kids grow up expecting presents from santa mummy and daddy have to pull all stops to make sure santa delivers, because believing in santa is the essence of innocent childhood. However the day your kids realise that from the 26th of December to the December 31 they have free reign, they can be the littlest shits and get away with it because Santa can't do shit.
What has happened is that commercialism thanks to capitalism has taken Christmas a once religious holiday and turned it into a highly profitable shopping season. Although I am a bit sceptical about it actually being Jesus' birthday, it is still quite symbolical and for marketers to bastardise it is just evidence that the free market will turn just about everything into junk.
To end on a happy note, this year's christmas day maybe me realise just how important family and some friends really are *Violin plays in the background to make this sound deeper*
P.s I still had a christmas list, I will continue to have christmas lists coz I still want christmas shit, BUT I recognise the system behind the season of giving.
P.s I still had a christmas list, I will continue to have christmas lists coz I still want christmas shit, BUT I recognise the system behind the season of giving.
-Mal
'5k to Couch'
No comments:
Post a Comment