Christmas stirs up memories of hunting for the perfect Christmas tree, freshly-baked seasonal pastries, and of course, presents wrapped with festive ribbons and bows. From wide-eyed children anticipating a visit from the famed, gift-giving Santa Claus, to teens hoping to receive the next iPhone, the tradition of giving and receiving presents is deeply ingrained into the culture of Christmas. However, it seems that as the years go by, the expectations for the magnitude of presents one receives only grows. What began as a humble tradition symbolizing gratefulness has very quickly spiraled out of control into a practice that often places financial strain on individuals, and has shifted the focus of the holiday season from family to profitability.
Fueled by the media’s love for fast-pace fads and worship of consumerism, the expectations surrounding gift giving have gotten incredibly out of control. Social media trends such as “Christmas Present Hauls” expose viewers to an unrealistic world in which it seems as if everyone is the recipient of multiple expensive gifts. According to the Liberty Live Wire, “Social media plays a huge role in online marketing trends. TikTok, in particular, promotes excessive spending. Influencers work directly with companies to promote their products to their audiences, primarily made up of children and teens, who are often without financial awareness” (thelibertylivewire.com). This normalization of spending impractical amounts of money on “the perfect present” has altered the views of many when it comes to gift-giving.
Senior Monet Rahimpour said, “We’ve moved away from the core of what gift giving is about. Thoughtfulness and showing how much you care about someone used to be the primary focus of gift giving. Now it seems as if it’s about how much stuff someone should get.” Although it may be cliche to say, the shift of focus to presents during the holiday season has led people to lose sight of the true “meaning of Christmas.”
This unnecessary pressure has the potential to lead to a less enjoyable holiday season for many, particularly parents with young children or teens. According to a study on gift giving during the holiday season, “81 percent of Americans plan to participate in holiday gift-giving this year, but the most wonderful time of the year doesn’t always come with cheer. 56 percent of gifters say they’re stressed about giving — the leading cause of holiday gift stress is not being able to afford presents (28 percent), while finding the right gift is a contributing factor (24 percent)” (lendingtree.com). It’s a natural thing to want to give those one cares about a gift they’ll treasure; however, what many fail to step back and realize is that it’s often not the price-tag of a present but rather the sentiment behind it that has the power to make a lasting impact.
While some may argue that spending loads of money on a gift for someone is an indicator that you care about them, this is simply not true. The phrase “actions speak louder than words” has tremendous validity. “Spending time choosing one thoughtful gift can go much further than simply buying the latest trendy items for your loved ones. Psychologists say that loved ones who are receiving the gift aren’t necessarily seeking a dramatic gift-opening; instead, most people will appreciate a gift that will be useful to them for a long time” (binghamprospector.org). A meaningful gift personalized for the recipient has the potential to leave a long-lasting positive impression as opposed to a pricey present that may go out of style before the year even ends.
Perhaps one of the most overlooked types of gifts are the ones that are handmade. According to a website on crafting, “Handmade gifts are the perfect way to show that special someone just how much you care for them without having to spend a lot of money. Not only do they demonstrate your creative skills, but handmade items can be tailored specifically to the receiver’s individual preferences and style. You don’t have to be a professional crafter either; simple DIY projects with supplies found around your home are often more meaningful than something store-bought…. No matter what route you decide to take, handmade gifts are always a heartfelt gesture for those you care about most” (plbfun.com). While at first it may seem a daunting task to allocate time to creating a beautiful present, the payoff is more than worth it.
The pressure to produce the perfect present has long been a part of the holiday season. Social media and cleverly crafted ads have only added to the idea that one must give the perfect gift. But don’t give in to the pressure. Be thoughtful and don’t break the bank.