From Christ to Commercialism: Rediscovering the True Meaning of Christmas

From Christ to Commercialism: Rediscovering the True Meaning of Christmas – by Charles Schokman

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Christmas in Australia is a beloved holiday marking the end of year, holidays, family gatherings, and the various traditions we have such as watching Christmas movies, singing Christmas Carols, Christmas parties and more. Longer summer evenings and barbeques, Christmas in Australia is a unique experience. In early November, Christmas trees begin appearing in stores, Santa Claus can be found in shopping centres, and by the end of November the black Friday sales weekend kick off as people search for perfect (and discounted) gifts. Australians embrace Christmas with enthusiasm, but for many, the deeper meaning of the holiday has completely faded into the background.

Today, the cultural celebration of Christmas often centers around Santa Claus, presents, food and consumerism. While I personally don’t believe there is nothing inherently wrong with having a Christmas tree, exchanging gifts, or even enjoying holiday traditions, the true reason for the season—the birth of Jesus – is rarely acknowledged and getting rarer as each year goes on. This (now) bold truth must remain central in our celebrations, especially as we continue to pass on the ‘Christ-centred’ legacy of Christmas to the next generation.

The Shift: From Christ to Commercialism

As Australia entered the 20th century, the way we celebrated Christmas began to shift. Western influences, particularly from America, started to take hold. Secular symbols like Santa Claus, reindeer, and snowmen became more prominent, and the focus on gift-giving and consumerism began to overshadow the story of Jesus’ birth.

Marketing campaigns by large corporations further drove this shift, creating an association between Christmas and buying gifts for each other (materialism). While this tradition is rooted in the Magi giving gifts to Jesus at his birth – it has been blown way over proportion. Spending during the Black Friday to Cyber Monday sales in Australia is expected to reach $6.7 Billion.

While families still gathered together and church services continued, the commercial aspects of Christmas became the dominant narrative. For many Australians, Christmas became less about worship and more about shopping, presents, and Santa.

Another unfortunate reality of the modern Australian Christmas is the overwhelming busyness of the season. The rush to buy gifts and prepare meals, Christmas parties and family gatherings. This frantic pace often results in stress and distraction by the demands of the holiday rather than focusing on the coming and incarnation of Christ. The pressure to conform to cultural norms—spending money on gifts, working to pay for those gifts, attending end-of-year parties—can skew our focus. I can’t help but think that this isn’t what Jesus had in mind when we reflect upon his incarnation into human flesh to redeem us from sin and death.

Despite the secularization of Christmas, we have an incredible opportunity as Christians to reclaim the true meaning of the season, at least in our homes and with our families as a place to start. We can do this is by being intentional about our how we celebrate our Christmas traditions and making sure they reflect our faith.

Attending and participating in church is an essential part of reclaiming Christmas. Whether it’s a Christmas Eve service, Christmas Day service, a nativity play, or a simple gathering for prayer and worship, making Christ the centre of our Christmas celebrations helps us keep the focus where it belongs. And brings a much needed shift to our culture and our hearts.

Another practical way to celebrate Christ is by setting up a nativity scene in our homes. This visible reminder of the birth of Jesus can serve as a daily focus for prayer and reflection. Additionally, reading the Gospel accounts of Christ’s birth as a family tradition helps us to keep our hearts centred on the real reason for the season.

Engaging in giving is another way to make Him the focus. As Jesus came to serve and love others, we can reflect His love by giving generously to those in need, volunteering, or inviting others into our homes who may be lonely or struggling during the holiday season. When there is a lot of taking from the world system, giving without expecting anything back from someone is a radical act.

In a world that increasingly pressures us to conform to secular norms, we must stand firm in our faith. This doesn’t mean rejecting all cultural traditions—after all, there’s nothing wrong with enjoying a Christmas tree or exchanging gifts—but it does mean keeping Christ at the centre of it all.

By lovingly resisting the pressure to make Christmas solely about ourselves and what we can get, we can remind others (and ourselves) that Christmas is a celebration of God’s greatest gift—His Son, Jesus.