For me, Christmas morning has always been my favorite part of the holiday season. Family all around, the faint sound of Mariah Carey lingering in the air, and the fireplace beneath our red stockings all define Christmas for me. But for many people, the competitive aspect of Holiday consumerism is at the top of their list, and it might be time to change that.

Whether it's making sure that their kids have the very best presents or that their homes are decked out like Santa’s North Pole, for many Americans, Christmas is less about togetherness and more about perfection and competition. While giving and getting gifts is a key element of the Holidays, lots of people get wrapped up in the pressure of the season and feel compelled to buy massive amounts of presents because they feel like they must do so in order to show affection to the receivers. In a survey of 2,000 Americans, “62% are trying to be the best gifter in their family” (New York Post). This same 62% also believe that finding the perfect presents is the most stressful part of the season. Another statistic reports that “41% of Americans are willing to take on debt due to gift shopping” (Ubbenga). Both of these studies demonstrate behaviors which contradict the idea that “Christmas can be a season of simplicity, generosity, connection and peace” (Ubbenga).

So, how can we alter the mindset around giving and getting gifts during the Holidays? Julia Ubbenga, a journalist whose pieces focus on minimalism and simplicity, suggests that the first step is to re-examine the why behind buying gifts. She recommends asking yourself “are you spending money because the Black Friday sale was too good to pass up? Are you buying gifts out of obligation?” (Ubbenga). Another strategy is to practice generosity for what is already owned. Ubbenga notes, “we need much less than we think to be happy. And the things that make our lives truly rich aren’t things at all.” This means that the materialistic items that many people stress over during the Holidays aren’t really providing any happiness at all, and it is crucial to decipher whether or not many of the purchases made are necessary for anyone involved. 

While the hustle and bustle of buying and giving gifts to loved ones during the holiday season can be fun and an integral part of the festive spirit, it is important to not get too wrapped up in the competitive nature of purchasing presents for the people in your life. For many Americans, it is necessary to reevaluate the motivation of such practices and to decide if the impact created by holiday shopping habits is causing more harm than good, and to subsequently make changes to festive customs and mentalities. 

Works Cited

6 in 10 Americans Think Holiday Gift Giving Is Competitive: Poll. 16 Nov. 2022, nypost.com/2022/11/16/6-in-10-americans-think-holiday-gift-giving-is-competitive-poll/. Accessed 24 Nov. 2023.

Ubbenga, Julia. “Opting out of Consumerism at Christmas.” No Sidebar, 12 Dec. 2022, nosidebar.com/opting-out-of-consumerism-at-christmas/. Accessed 24 Nov. 2023.