Christmas Presents - Why?
Reading the title, you may think this is my most cynical posting to date. Just bear with me.
I think we can all agree that one of the enduring icons of Christmas is Santa Claus. Who goes to see him in the malls? Children. Who write letters to him addressed to the North Pole? Children. To whom does Santa Claus bring gifts? Children. I have always thought that Christmas gifts are for children. That being said, why do adults give presents to each other for the same occasion on the 25th of December? Because it's tradition? Because it's nice? Because we love to give? Does anyone stop to think what this does to the other person? Let's look at it.
Someone buys you a Christmas present. Any normal person receiving the gift then feels obligated to reciprocate, in one way or another. If you truly don't, then you are indeed a very selfish individual. By virtue of receiving a gift, you now feel that you have to get something for the other person. In this example, this is the reaction you get if you know in advance that someone has purchased a present for you. If you know that someone is getting something for you, and you do not have something for them at the time of the exchange, you look like a greedy person, and the person giving the gift is also disappointed. What's that you say? You just like to give, as what can be described as a "selfless act"? Sorry. There's no such thing. Every act you do is done for selfish reasons. How? Simple. You do it, thinking you're being selfless, and getting nothing in return. However you are getting a sense of self-satisfaction, knowing you made someone "happy". THAT is why you do it. There's nothing wrong with helping others, or charity, particularly if that is your reward. But I'm talking about Christmas presents.
By the way, you know that gift you gave someone because you like to give? You forgot the other thing that goes along with your gift - shame. You've made that person who you gave a gift to, who doesn't have one in return for you, feel about 3 inches tall. You illicit a very disappointed feeling in the other person because they didn't get you anything. How does it feel to just "give" now?
Why is it only at Christmas, and birthdays, that you buy gifts? Why not give a gift on the 23rd of February? Or the 7th of August? Ah. Because it's Christmas. Well, there's nothing better than to celebrate the birth of our Lord by spending $40 on a coffee maker. Let's face it. We celebrate the birth of the Baby Jesus by giving baubles that could just as easily be bought by the other person if they so choose. I would like to think that the true meaning of the holiday isn't lost. I'm afraid that every year, the true meaning is more and more lost. Christmas is about the hopes and ideals within all of us to strive to make the best of our world. Celebrating it should mean being with family and loved ones, not buying objects.
I think we can all agree that one of the enduring icons of Christmas is Santa Claus. Who goes to see him in the malls? Children. Who write letters to him addressed to the North Pole? Children. To whom does Santa Claus bring gifts? Children. I have always thought that Christmas gifts are for children. That being said, why do adults give presents to each other for the same occasion on the 25th of December? Because it's tradition? Because it's nice? Because we love to give? Does anyone stop to think what this does to the other person? Let's look at it.
Someone buys you a Christmas present. Any normal person receiving the gift then feels obligated to reciprocate, in one way or another. If you truly don't, then you are indeed a very selfish individual. By virtue of receiving a gift, you now feel that you have to get something for the other person. In this example, this is the reaction you get if you know in advance that someone has purchased a present for you. If you know that someone is getting something for you, and you do not have something for them at the time of the exchange, you look like a greedy person, and the person giving the gift is also disappointed. What's that you say? You just like to give, as what can be described as a "selfless act"? Sorry. There's no such thing. Every act you do is done for selfish reasons. How? Simple. You do it, thinking you're being selfless, and getting nothing in return. However you are getting a sense of self-satisfaction, knowing you made someone "happy". THAT is why you do it. There's nothing wrong with helping others, or charity, particularly if that is your reward. But I'm talking about Christmas presents.
By the way, you know that gift you gave someone because you like to give? You forgot the other thing that goes along with your gift - shame. You've made that person who you gave a gift to, who doesn't have one in return for you, feel about 3 inches tall. You illicit a very disappointed feeling in the other person because they didn't get you anything. How does it feel to just "give" now?
Why is it only at Christmas, and birthdays, that you buy gifts? Why not give a gift on the 23rd of February? Or the 7th of August? Ah. Because it's Christmas. Well, there's nothing better than to celebrate the birth of our Lord by spending $40 on a coffee maker. Let's face it. We celebrate the birth of the Baby Jesus by giving baubles that could just as easily be bought by the other person if they so choose. I would like to think that the true meaning of the holiday isn't lost. I'm afraid that every year, the true meaning is more and more lost. Christmas is about the hopes and ideals within all of us to strive to make the best of our world. Celebrating it should mean being with family and loved ones, not buying objects.
posted by One Man's Thoughts at 5:26 PM
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