Is Christmas too focused on gift giving?

Answer 1

Hey if it is too focused on gift GIVING, I have no problem, thats what the holiday is partially about. Giving to other out of the depth of your heart. Now if you said people were too focused on receiving, I would definitely concur.

Answer 2

For some it is. For some it isn't. As with anything, it's what you make of it. If you obsess about shopping and getting the "right" gifts and spending big $$$, then yes, Christmas will be focused on the gift giving. But if you focus on the sharing, and the meet-and-greets, and the true meaning of the season, then that's what it will be focused on.

Answer 3

In the United States? Yes, definately. We Americans are always in a hurry, buy far more than what we need and have lost the true meaning of Christmas. I am an expatriate now living in Europe and have noticed that the European life style is generally more focused on family, nature, quality of life. I live in Switzerland where people buy only what they need, they don't have megastores here filled with all kinds of junk like in the U.S. It's refreshing, actually. I see children dressed like children and playing hop-scotch, jump rope, and all the other old fashion games that children in the U.S. played 30 years ago. I wish that the United States would cut back on all the "crap" coming into the country and get back to basics like this.

Answer 4

The sad fact is that we have been taught that it's a given to give presents at this time of year, and it's truely better to give then recieve. (Some may not think so) But the fact is that the gifts are getting bigger and more expensive and people are putting themselves into debt for a statues symbol at christmas. The best gift this time of year is charity, give your time to those how need help, A food Panrty, Soup Kitchen ETC. I think that you will find you feel much better about yourself then if you had given the money for a tax right off.

Answer 5

Yes, I believe that Christmas is very much focused on gift giving. It involves so much commercialized gibberish that most people forget the true meaning of the holiday.

Unfortunately, it isn't the Christmas of yesteryear. Stores have capitalized on the holiday changing it from religious to something close to evil.

Answer 6

or cutting down trees was another ridiculous hobby. I laugh when I see people driving around with killed trees on the roof of their cars. There are no pine trees in Bethlehem. my favorite thing about Christmas are people fighting over items or trying to get the best deals on black Friday. So people are now fighting for gifts and deals and sales on behalf of Jesus getting born? Jesus was not born in December anyway. You don't fight or exchange gifts when someone is born. check out you tube and blackfriday to see how stupid people are acting. nobody cares about jesus's birth. They didn't care when they created the holiday. Otherwise they would have made it on his real birthday instead of to compete against the pagan holidays in December.

The other thing that makes me laugh are the 2 types of families:
The first is the family that asks each other what they want for Christmas or they say,"so and so is getting me that for Xmas" what is the point of a gift then. just buy the garbage for yourself and let your family member buy their own garbage for themselves.
The second family surprises each other with gifts that they don't want so they then create a new holiday after Christmas. The largest return day of gifts. Where stores have now extended return dates because people never wanted this garbage in the first place.

Answer 7

I think Christmas is so focused on receiving and giving gifts now-a-days. Like it is barely on family and friends anymore. Just wondering what you got from your friends. Our world is so materialistic right now.

Answer 8

Yes and no. A good portion of christmas is gifts being brought to the newborn king, however, i think most people forget that it is a celebration of christ's bday. I watched on hgtv jewish people who decorated their homes for christmas...i don't understand that. christmas is over exaggerated just like every other holiday thats marketed to the masses!

Answer 9

i guess...i LOVE Christmas as much as i did when i was 5, and that was 16 years ago. i'm also not a Christian and i think it's a crock that Jesus was born on Christmas, i was taught he was born in September.

but i'll take any excuse to give and receive presents! i love it XD that's what Christmas is to me...spending time with family, opening presents, whether you buy one for everyone or do it secret santa style, and then spending the rest of the day playing travel sudoku on the keychain you got in your stocking. i think Christmas is awesome.

Answer 10

Unfortunately yes. Even countries where Christianity is not the predominant religion they celebrate the gift exchange because it increases sales.
Christians celebrate the God's gift to the world: his love through Jesus Christ who thought us how to love unconditionally.