Daemen College : Student Life : Daemen Insight : No Longer About Tradition
No Longer About Tradition
By Hayley Brown
Celebrated on December 25 by Christians, Christmas is a day to commemorate the birth of Jesus. Non-Christians also celebrate Christmas. They have adopted customs such as gift giving, decorations and Christmas trees. Everyone seems to be attracted to the Christmas spirit. And everyone spends money.
Christmas is an enjoyable time for people and family, but the economy greatly benefits as well. It is inevitable that sales increase at this time of year as perfect gifts are purchased. However, “this time of year”seems to creep up faster every year, partly because retail stores want Christmas shoppers to begin thinking about the holiday… even prior to Halloween! Sure, as you get older the years seem to “fly by” more and more each year, but not only does the holiday seem to come faster every year, the season truly does. Just like people are excited for Christmas, the shops eagerly anticipate the thriving economy that comes with it. The holiday helps businesses and people alike.
Retail companies will be positively affected by the holiday. Such companies include credit card companies, retail department stores, and technological companies, thanks to traditions like gift giving. Their volume-driven sales allow them to offer competitive pricing to get more people in the door, and more people leaving with more.
Smaller businesses enjoy higher profits as well. Like large companies, more people will buy their products or services. Small businesses usually “specialize” in goods or services, so naturally with more people shopping, they will attract new costumers.
Competition among stores has created a “discount environment.” The discount environment is emphasized the day after Thanksgiving, or Black Friday. However, this is not when Christmas sales start. Christmas paraphernalia shows up before Halloween now. That’s two months before the holiday!
People are feeding into the spirit of giving, getting, and one-upmanship sooner each year. The Christmas feel is straying from genuine giving to being pressured to buy presents for others. For example, advertisements use the popularity approach. They want their customers to feel as though everyone is purchasing their product, and that you should buy it too, or even one better.
The opportunity that Christmas provides benefits the economy and people, but is the true meaning of Christmas still present?