Patch Teen Peer Panel Question of the Week

Allison Hermann of St. Joseph's Academy offers this week's question: has Christmas turned into one big commercialized event, with sales and promotions beginning around Thanksgiving. Has the true meaning of Christmas disappeared?

Curtis Walls, Ladue High School

Yes: But you can't really blame commercial advertising because they're just trying to make money. However, with numerous movies and shows about Christmas where santa brings toys and gifts to all the good boys and girls has deformed to true meaning to Christmas for younger children. Back in the day with movie like a Christmas Carol and a Christmas Story they show that it's not always about the present you receive, but helping others to make them happy.

Victoria Watson, Villa Duchesne

It all depends on what people consider to be the “true meaning” of Christmas. People have become addicted to making their friends and family happy; what better way to do that than to give them gifts?

There is nothing like the feeling we get after seeing someone smile while opening up a present that really means something to them. With this being said, this addiction has apparently driven people to wait in line after Thanksgiving dinner, or to wake up at ungodly hours on Black Friday to get rock-bottom deals on items that probably won’t bring as much happiness as they imagine it will.

Companies bombard us with commercials that show how buying THIS for (insert person here) will make them happy.

If anything has been forgotten, it’s what constitutes a good present. The jewelry and the clothing, sure it looks nice, but when we look back on past Christmases, do you really remember every gift you get? What you usually remember are the people who were there, and the time that you spent with them.

You can return the goofy presents you get from your relatives, or re-gift them to not-so-close friends, but what you can’t re-gift is time. So often we forget how important relationships are, and how big of an impact we have on each other.

Spending time with others is a real gift, because once you’ve given your time to someone else, you will never be able to get it back.

Allison Hermann, St. Joseph's Academy

I do believe that the meaning of Christmas is getting lost. People should not be stressing out and just "trying to make it through the holidays".  Some advertising is good, but it has gotten to the point were Christmas is all about the gifts.

I think people need to take a pause and think about what is really happening. If you are relieved that Christmas is over, then that means you did not get the true meaning of Christmas and the holidays.

Rebecca Antony, MICDS

Of course the true meaning of Christmas is getting lost--if we were to ask young children now what "Christmas" is, you'd find that they would answer something like this: "Presents! Tree! Santa."

Of course the main blame can be shoved onto the shoulders of the commercial aspects of Christmas, but parents deserve a considerable amount of the blame, too. I highly doubt that strained, overworked, stressed out parents have any time or energy to stress the true meaning of Christmas to their young children, and although their circumstances are tough, it is also unfair of them to shove the blame onto the media.

And of course it isn't necessary to start advertising Christmas at Halloween...unless you're trying to make some money...

Molly Soto, St. Joseph's Academy

To some degree I do believe that the meaning is Christmas is often lost but speaking on a personal level when I see all the ads and commercials relating to Christmas, I get really excited because I know Christmas is a time with family and celebrating one another’s company.

I know there are plenty of people who confuse the reason of the season with just receiving gifts but the bottom line is that Christmas would ease to exist if there were not families who love each other and want to spend the season together. However I do think it is a little early to advertize Christmas at Halloween.

Catherine Toman, St. Joseph's Academy

In my personal opinion, Christmas is becoming too commercialized. When Christmas shoppers begin trampling each other for the best deals, I believe that's crossing the line (especially in what is supposed to be a season of giving).

In my house, there's a rule, actually: during the month of December, we are all to avoid the section of Ballas road that is in between Dougherty Ferry and Manchester because of mall traffic.

Christmas shouldn't be about traffic jams and headaches and returns and exchanges; I think Christmas should be about being with one's family and doing things for others, whether that happens to be giving a gift or some other gesture.

Isabelle Stillman, John Burroughs

I believe Christmas has become very commercialized, as is clear in any shopping mall, with the delivery of several catalogs, and in advertisements on television and the radio. However, this commercialization has not affected the joy that always surrounds the holiday.

Christmas remains a time to be with family, enjoying one another's company. Although the focus beforehand is solely on material goods, the celebration never fails to bring people together with love and joy.

Spencer Desai, MICDS

I believe that it is being too commercialized. However, that does not mean that the same feeling and tradition of Christmas goes away. Families still meet, traditions are still made and presents are still given out. Christmas has become about the presents but it is the things around the presents that make it truly special.

There are many other opinions on this subject.

Christiananswers.net has their take on this timely issue.

What would Jesus think of Christmas?