Holidays and Capitalism
It is no secret that consumerism reaches a high in the midst of the holiday season, specifically December which brings Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa celebrations. The National Retail Federation conducted a survey that has predicted consumer spending during the winter holidays will spark in 2024, reaching an average of $902 spent by each person. Christmas is very successful in stimulating the economy due to the severe increase in demand from consumers, leading to an increase of production from businesses.
Furthermore, the winter holidays have shifted from a focus on family traditions to the maximization of commercialism. This makes people wonder, is the legend of Santa Claus a genuine attempt to maintain the Christmas magic for children, or is he just the best advertising technique? In December, Santa Claus is a common motif, creating Christmas spirit and helping to create a dent in the average person’s bank account. December 25th was once a day that revolved around the birth of Christ, hence the name, “Christmas,” and it is now a day that thrives on the exchange of gifts and capitalism.
Even before consumerism and the holidays got severely out of hand, the 2004 Christmas film, Christmas with the Kranks, demonstrates that Christmas celebrations and saving money are simply not coherent. This film reflects on an older couple who chooses not to celebrate Christmas one year in order to save money, but their plans are severely frowned upon by their community. Overall, although Hanukkah and Kwanzaa expenses are a great contribution to capitalism in December, the symbol of Saint Nicholas is the main motivation to spend. A story that started with a kind saint delivering gifts to those in need, has been amplified into a capitalistic advertisement eager to turn a profit.
