Are Festive Seasons Too Commercialised Nowadays?

They have led us to believe that such products are must-have items during our festivals.

We, too, are to blame. We find excuses to buy them. And as we do so, we pay scant attention to the original meaning of each festival. We often don't even know why we even celebrate a festival. After all, how many people reflect on the birth, life and deeds of Jesus Christ during Christmas?

Christmas celebrates the birth of Jesus. It's not meant to be a chance to do some shopping.

During the period between Thanksgiving and Christmas, many businesses in the US make up to 40 per cent of their annual total revenue.

Not surprisingly, Christmas decorations begin to appear weeks ahead of the actual holiday.

In his last Christmas sermon, Pope Benedict XVI criticised the commercialisation of Christmas. He urged Christians worldwide not to be blinded by materialism and consumerism.

He asked them to heed Jesus' original message. We should celebrate our festivals by reflecting on their meaning.

Instead, what we do is let ourselves be misled by ads and commercials.

Let's recapture our holidays' true spirit.

Janet Lau Hiu-ming, 17, Tsung Tsin Christian Academy

Now that the Christmas season is behind us, it's time to get ready for Lunar New Year.

Accordingly, most shops have simply changed their decorations and special offers on sale.

Traditional festivals have been commercialised to such an extent that they have just become an excuse for people to spend money - or encourage others to do so.

Having said that, amid all the glitter, the original traditions and meaning of these festivals are alive and well.

For example, during Christmas, many discounts let people break their piggybanks for a good cause: to splurge out on gifts for their loved ones.

This shows that the spirit of giving, peace and happiness during Christmas is still present.

The Mid-Autumn Festival, like Christmas, is also one of the most 'commercialised' festivals in Hong Kong.

In recent years, several companies have tried their hands at making a fortune by selling fancy modern versions of traditional mooncakes.

Yet that, too, has social benefits. By promoting mooncakes, which represent the reuniting of families, companies are helping to reinforce the true meaning of the Mid-Autumn Festival: that it is a time for families to come together.

So 'commercialisation' of festive seasons is not all that bad.

By helping to promote traditional festivals, businesses can reinforce the importance of such holidays.

Behind all the glitz and glamour, the core elements of spiritual and religious themes have been left unchanged. They are definitely not forgotten.