Christmas Spirit

The amount of houses displaying Christmas lights diminishes each year, yet the intensity of some keeps growing. Outsides lights soon seem to be a thing of the past, whether because of all the work it entails or the amount of attention it brings is unknown, yet the fact remains, that year by year, houses are more dormant than years past. It is obvious that the amount of Christians is not on that dramatic of decrease, yet I wonder if the amount of dedication to religion is not to blame? I would say if looking at the problem logically, one would need to address two issues. One is that today’s Christians are not as dedicated as Christians of past generations, as shown in the number of Catholics who remain involved in weekly mass after confirmation. Or whether the decrease has to do with increased laziness, or increased travel for the holiday season. Although the Christmas season is about Jesus Christ, it also is about family and friends, and the celebration of the uniting of families, and so if I was an outright optimist instead of a realist, I would hope that the decrease in outside Christmas lights has to do with the need for family, instead of just a desire to get Christmas over with as soon as possible. Being the realist that I strive to be, it seems that Jesus, nor family tops the list of Christmas definitions now-a-days, but instead is a season filled with hassle in stores, and discourse throughout the season. What will become next of Christ's birthday season? Maybe if stores did not start to try to sell Christmas products during September, we would not be so "christmased out". Yet who am I to interfere with Capitalism? Yet still, as a Catholic Christian, I am saddened by the idea that Christmas is becoming a dreaded season, instead of a season of remembering family values, and holiday joy. Maybe someday soon Christmas will be restored as holiday not just of toys and charities, but also of family and friends!