Christmas is not all about presents
COMMENTARY
Co-News Editor Jessica Sanders is a senior news-editorial journalism major from San Antonio.

The day after Halloween, I ventured to Target in search of sale-priced candy. Visions of jack-o-lanterns and black cats still danced in my head as I walked through the automatic doors. But instead of leftover treats and clearance-priced plastic pumpkins, I was met with Christmas decorations.

It seems that Target, along with many in the retail world, decided to deck the halls a little early. Actually a whole month early. The retail world is strongly encouraging us to start our Yuletide celebrations on Nov. 1. It’s pretty hard to get in the holiday spirit when we’re still wearing T-shirts and flip-flops.

Because, as everyone knows, Christmas is about giving. And in order to give, you must buy, buy, buy. Retailers push Christmas decorations, Christmas shopping, even Christmas underwear earlier and earlier. And if you’re not joyfully spending your life-savings away, there must be something wrong with you.

And it’s not just stores, but it seems the whole world goes Christmas crazy earlier each year. Radio stations play holiday tunes, many which are not as good as regular songs, starting in November. An avalanche of Christmas movies, toys and commercials appear the day after Thanksgiving. That goes along with special sales so that you can buy, buy, buy for everyone on your Christmas list. Because if you listen to the commercials, that’s what Christmas is all about.

And as Grinchy as it sounds, I am pretty sick of Christmas by the time it finally rolls around.

But I haven’t always been such a Scrooge. I remember the joy of picking out the Christmas tree with my family, watching Claymation and Charlie Brown Christmas specials, and making Christmas cookies.

When you’re a kid, you miss out on a lot of the stress of the holiday season. It’s a time in your life when you can make gifts out of pipe cleaners, and people will actually pretend to be happy to receive them. If you try that now, your mental state would probably come into question.

According to the American Psychological Association, holiday stress is caused by our desire for the season to be perfect. Families that fight will still fight on Dec. 25, dinners may burn and gifts might get returned. But that’s not what Christmas is about. It is a celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, not of retail shopping. The best way to get in the holiday spirit is to love the way that Christ loved. And along the way, you just might find the perfect Christmas gift.