Holidays and Our Consumer Culture
Holidays and Our Consumer Culture
Holidays have always been known to affect our consumer culture for many years, but how it all began eludes many people and very few studies have been completed on it. Even though some say that the subject is too broad to precisely to identify how holidays, especially Christmas, directly affect our market, I have found that people’s values, expectations and rituals related to holidays can cause an excessive amount of spending among our society. Most people are unaware that over the centuries holidays have become such a profitable time of year for industries that they now starting to promote gift ideas on an average of a month and a half ahead of actual holiday dates to meet consumer demands.
Religions influences on consumer’s behavioral spending habits have drastically changed throughout the past centuries. Christian’s rituals of holidays such as Christmas were once only demonstrated by worshipping God and attending Church Masses and services in early years. Their behavioral habits can be understood by their spiritual philosophy of the spirit, God. Hegal, a philosopher, argued that “spirit” represented the essence of freedom, distinguishable from the individual “self.” (Lindridge 2005). This belief prompted people to focus more intently on their religion then on the actual idea of buying gifts for the holidays. Christianity worship particularly was a time that was meant to set a time away from the markets or business’ and a time for one’s soul to repent. Often time services would be held for worship, not only Sundays and holidays, but as well two to three other days during the working week. This custom lasted for many years among the religious groups while the markets struggled to stay productive.
Fairs, markets, and amusement stands often competed with Churches for Christian’s and other various religions attention throughout the holiday periods. In view of the fact that spirituality was very important to
Holidays have always been known to affect our consumer culture for many years, but how it all began eludes many people and very few studies have been completed on it. Even though some say that the subject is too broad to precisely to identify how holidays, especially Christmas, directly affect our market, I have found that people’s values, expectations and rituals related to holidays can cause an excessive amount of spending among our society. Most people are unaware that over the centuries holidays have become such a profitable time of year for industries that they now starting to promote gift ideas on an average of a month and a half ahead of actual holiday dates to meet consumer demands.
Religions influences on consumer’s behavioral spending habits have drastically changed throughout the past centuries. Christian’s rituals of holidays such as Christmas were once only demonstrated by worshipping God and attending Church Masses and services in early years. Their behavioral habits can be understood by their spiritual philosophy of the spirit, God. Hegal, a philosopher, argued that “spirit” represented the essence of freedom, distinguishable from the individual “self.” (Lindridge 2005). This belief prompted people to focus more intently on their religion then on the actual idea of buying gifts for the holidays. Christianity worship particularly was a time that was meant to set a time away from the markets or business’ and a time for one’s soul to repent. Often time services would be held for worship, not only Sundays and holidays, but as well two to three other days during the working week. This custom lasted for many years among the religious groups while the markets struggled to stay productive.
Fairs, markets, and amusement stands often competed with Churches for Christian’s and other various religions attention throughout the holiday periods. In view of the fact that spirituality was very important to
References: Eric Leigh Schmidt ( December 1991)- the Commercialization of the Calendar: American Holidays and the Culture of Consumption, 1870-1930 – The Journal of American History Vol. 78 Issue 3, p887-916, 30p, 4 bw from: www.apollolibrary.com retrieved August 1, 2008. Katherine Turpin (December 2006)- Spiritual Side of Shopping – Denver Post. Denver, Colo.; pgE.O1 from: www.apollolibrary.com retrieved August 1, 2008. James Moorhead (July 2006)- Consumer Rites: The Buying and Selling of American Holidays Today- Theology Today, Princeton University Press p363 from: www.apollolibrary.com retrieved August 1, 2008. Therkelsen and Gram (2008) - The Meaning of Holiday Consumption Journal of Consumer Culture, Vol Matthew Kirdahy (November 2006) – Happy Holidays? Consumer Spending Rebounds – Forbes Magazine from: www.forbes.com retrieved August 21, 2008. Christian E. Weller ( December 2006) – Consumer Debt: A Christmas Story; Retail Spending May Slump This Holiday Season from: www.americanprogress.com retrieved August 21, 2008. Annie Leonard (December 2007) – The Story of Stuff: free video unmask consumer culture from www.energybulletin.net retrieved August 21, 2008. Elizabeth H. Pleck – Celebrating the Family: Ethnicity, Consumer Culture, and Family Rituals from www.eric.ed.gov retrieved August 21, 2008.