“Christmas creep”: Capitalism or a hunger for the goodness of Christ?
Photo Curtesy of Chantal DeGaust on Unsplash
Carolyn Christopher, Staff Writer
Every year seems to trigger huffs and puffs throughout stores when Christmas decorations are put out, specifically because they seem to appear earlier every year. While many celebrate Christmas for the sense of joy, family and Christian values, retail stores don’t fail to remind us that money is to be spent as well.
The shelves of retailers and merchandizers seem to be sporting Christmas decorations earlier every year. This very real phenomenon is known as “Christmas creep.” Many stores begin selling Christmas decorations and playing related music as little as two months in advance. In 2023, CNN reported holiday themed merchandise for sale as early as July.
“Lowe’s noted that over the past two years the retailer has seen an increase in holiday décor searches starting as early as July . . . and launched festive holiday products early,” wrote CNN.
The Christmas creep does not exist solely in stores but in our personal lives as well. Many people see November 1 as their official start to the Christmas season, others even earlier than that.
After seeing a snowman prop appear outside NGU’s Foster building in October, I said, “I guess he’s dressed as a snowman for Halloween.”
The question is, is this yearning for Christmas due to the constant capitalism of Christmas by corporations or the yearning for Christian influence?
Logically, Black Friday would begin the legitimate scope of the Christmas season. It directly follows Thanksgiving, which often feels overlooked between Halloween and Christmas, and Black Friday occurs. Although, Black Friday itself is built around spending — I mean saving money.
“Black Friday is often seen as the start of the Christmas season because ads advertise discounts for popular products, such as toys, video games and clothing. On any other day, such prices for said items would be more expensive,” said Emanual Espinoza at The Connection.
Some speculate that Christmas has come earlier every year, not because of the desire for gifts or peppermint creamer, but because of the soulful need for Christ. The season of the birth of Christ is a time for Christians to be mindful and joyous in that fact. Those moods can easily spread to the entirety of the world, creating a desire, apparent or not, for Christ’s holiness.
Courtney Ellis from Christianity Today wrote, “Go ahead and decorate that tree today if you want. It might give pleasure to your family, your neighbors, and your friends. More than that, it’ll remind you that we celebrate Christ’s coming—and anticipate his second coming—all year long.”
Ellis suggests that Christmas, of both religion and commercial means, can be celebrated together. By doing so we are reminded of the meaning of the holiday in a larger expanse of time, in which we are further able to spread the meaning of Christ’s birth.
Daniel Parris with Stat Significant analyzed the creeping of Christmas over the years due to social expectations and media popularity. He emphasized that Christmas coming earlier is not necessarily a bad thing — it is a time of happiness for those who celebrate it.
“So likely, Christmas (the enterprise) will grow until it reaches a perfect equilibrium of scope and scarcity. End state, we will have enough Christmas to boost annual happiness but not too much to spoil the holiday’s significance,” said Parris.
The onslaught of a consistently earlier Christmas is virtually inescapable in our society. Some see it as a vicious attack of capitalism, others as the world’s beautiful desire for the love of Christ. I would see it as both.
Nothing is that black and white — except those colors themselves — and everyone has different priorities. The average person loves receiving and giving gifts but also tires of the commercial nonsense of the season. Not everyone will focus on the true meaning of Christmas, though they are not likely to be untouched by the love and joy of it — just ask Scrooge.
As Lucy said in “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” “We all know that Christmas is a big commercial racket. It’s run by a big eastern syndicate, you know.”
Whether focusing on the commercial or religious aspects of the holiday, one is not likely to go without feeling the good will and brightness of it. If someone, Christian or no, acknowledges Christmas in any positive light, they acknowledge the beauty of it, thus filling their heart with the ultimate goodness: Christ.
