MATERIALISM

I agree with Amel Saleh, when she says the holiday is too much about receiving and less about giving. It seems like kids today want fancy toys, nice clothes or the newest gadgets out. If they don’t receive these nice things they are not happy with their parents. Not to mention they aren’t the ones forking out expensive gifts in return, they only demand high priced gifts and give out little to nothing in return. I feel this way because I see my younger cousins and close friends respond in the same way. My younger family members faces when they see clothes is drastically different to when they receive a fancy electronic. When I see some of my family members receive a non preferred gift their physical reaction is not as “jumpy” as it is when they receive a preferred gift, also family members amplify preferred gifts so the child knows it’s something preferred rather than not.

In my family, we always purchase a gift everyone in the immediate family. So for example, whoever is opening gifts will have purchased a gift for everyone in attendance. My family does not emphasis the quality of the gift as much as it is to just have received a gift. Also, my family makes sure the youth are valued and receive more than adults. The holiday is for one, the adults to understand it is not about gifts but to respect the tradition. Secondly, for the youth to have positive memories of the holiday and also to understand that it is a blessing to have family. I understand that each religion is different and we all have different ways of honoring the day of Christmas.