Restoring the Spirit in the World
As the door opens, you are enveloped in the smell of sweet cinnamon and apple floating through the air. The chuckle of uncle Jeff, the kind of laugh where he laughs so hard he starts coughing like it’s the funniest thing he has heard in his lifetime. Everyone knows it’s not really that funny though. He is probably just laughing at something he said while everyone else is laughing just because he is such a character. The twinkling christmas tree sits in the corner just past the family on the couch. Presents are nestled under the loose, low hanging limbs right beside the train track and porcelain town. Down the hallway, pleasant and nostalgic christmas songs are playing while mom is setting the table with plates, flowers and holly decoration. Christmas used to be a time where families could come together and enjoy eachothers presence, but it is no longer common. It created a warm feeling deep in our souls, the feeling of love and comfort. Throughout the years, modern culture has changed the holiday experience from warm and loving to a season revolved around out devices. I attribute this lack of holiday experience with the rise of technology: increased the ideal of “gifts”, decreased the religious impact, and has changed the way we interact with loved ones.
In present day, presents on christmas have become a necessity and social normality, and technology has affected where we shop, what we give, and how we give presents to others. In the past, Christmas was a gift in itself. Getting to see your family, having a great home cooked meal, and basking in the joy of the season. It is not that simple anymore, families are expected to fork out outstanding amounts of money on gifts for not only their children but loved ones and distant family. Technology has been a supporter this unhealthy trend, now even if you may not see the family you have across the world you are expected to send them e-gifts. We no longer get the experience of...