Why Holidays Are Too Commercialized

 Holidays are a time when families and friends come together to celebrate and have fun. They exchange gifts, decorate together, and, overall, have a good time. 

During holidays in the past, families used to make sweets and bread in their houses with cheap items, and the children would be excited to help them. The parents wouldn’t worry about the cost of holidays because most of the gifts would be made by them or the children. They wouldn't go out and buy stuff, they would make gifts from things they already had at home, such as coloured paper or clothes. Back then, people were much more excited about the holidays and the children were more grateful for their presents than kids nowadays, even if their gifts weren't big or expensive.

What happens when it becomes all about money and buying gifts? Holidays like Mother's Day and Father's Day were once made to appreciate parents and their hard work in raising children. Kids would make handmade cards and gifts, as well as, spend the day with their parents to show them how much they appreciated and loved them. Over time, companies took this opportunity to start making pre-made cards for people to buy. Some people were against this, saying that individuals should put effort into making cards themselves instead of buying them. Today, people feel like holidays are all about money, with some spending hundreds of dollars on gifts and decorations. Brands like Coca-Cola, even if they're not relevant to the holiday, make a profit from selling soda during festivities because they’re branded with special titles like 'Santa's Drink'. 

Back in the day, families would gather for the holidays so they could spend them together and celebrate. In the present, airlines offer flight ticket deals for people to travel for leisure and they don’t even get to see their relatives. This means they miss the point of those holidays and spend the entire time without realizing the true meaning of it. Many people argue that spending a lot of money on gifts or decorations during a holiday is not good because it was originally not supposed to be celebrated in that manner. Brands like to take advantage of holiday names and make custom items, except they overprice them because they're special for that time of the year. Capitalism has led to many people missing out on the true intent of holidays, which should be spending time with loved ones.