I borrowed this title from a piece by Patricia Zapor in Catholic News Service.
In her introduction to the intriguing piece she wrote as follows:
“Should the Christmas shopping crowds, costs and commercialism be at odds with how one is trying to observe Advent and the celebration of the birth of Christ, there's a burgeoning world of alternative ways of gift-giving that are vying for attention.”
The first part of this introductory sentence expresses a sentiment felt by many during this time of year. Christmas is becoming a bit (or perhaps more than a bit) of a problem to many people. There are too many gifts to buy for too many people. The word ‘gift’ has lost its meaning. It is no longer the giving of something for free but it has become an exchange. People stop and think how much others will spend on them before they decide how much they themselves will spend.
There is another aspect from the spiritual/religious point of view. Advent has almost lost its meaning. Christmas or what is called the Christmas spirit starts weeks before December 25. That date almost marks the conclusion of the partying and merry making more than its climax.
Patricia Zapor does not actually suggest that...
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