From the Editorial Staff... - ’Tis the season at William Jewell College

The Editorial Staff
12/2/11
This week, the William Jewell College community celebrated the arrival of the holiday season with the Hanging of the Green and the Lighting of the Quad. These traditions are full of joy and merriment and contribute to the great sense of community we feel on the Hill. Beyond the College, however, this season is often not driven by community, but rather by spending.

While wanting to buy gifts for the ones you love is certainly admirable, it is important in this crazy season to remember what really matters. This time of year, no matter your religious affiliation, is regarded culturally as a time of peace on earth and goodwill toward all. It should be defined by a generous heart and love. However, it is hard to remember that when you are spending all of your time shopping.

According to a Gallup poll, the average American consumes is planning on spending around $715 on Christmas presents this year. While this number is smaller than it was a few years ago (in 2007, it stood at $907, and in 2008 $909), $715 is still a large sum to spend on gifts. A great deal of this money or the time used spending it could easily go toward a cause that reflects more accurately what this season should be about.

While the sentiments of the season may be the underlying cause to all the spending, they may not be apparent when contemplating the mountain of gifts one needs to buy. When did the claymation Kris Kringle transform into the Coca-Cola-guzzling Claus the commercials perpetuate this time of year? While we cannot change the capitalist drive that consumes Dec. 25 as individuals, we can strive to change our actions concerning the holiday season.

As college students, it can be hard to find time to sleep, let alone buy gifts or donate our time. However, perhaps our charity could be a little different. If it is hard to get off the Hill in the weeks leading up to finals (as it usually is), perhaps you could take the opportunity to extend the hand of friendship and fraternity to someone around you. Get coffee with a friend you have not spoken to lately or tell the person thank you for being a friend. They will appreciate it more than you know.

If you are feeling even more charitable, think about working at a soup kitchen sometime over break. Some families work at soup kitchens on Christmas Day instead of exchanging presents and having a large meal. Perhaps this goes against most families’ traditions, but places like this are always looking for volunteers around the holidays. However, you do not have to go to lengths like this to turn around the meaning for the season. It first starts with your attitude and feelings about this time of year. Make your break something meaningful, whether it be about volunteer work, time with others or a break from capitalistic expectations.
Ultimately, the holiday season is a celebration of the gifts we have, not material gifts, but the relationships we have in our lives. It is a time when families come together, despite geographical distances. Cookies are made, stories are shared and lifelong memories are created. This year, take your cookies to your neighbor; share your stories at a nursing home with those who go unvisited. This can create a new tradition. We need to return to a time when friendship and goodwill were the foundational characteristics of the season. We hope that, this holiday season, you are able to expand your horizons and create new traditions that value relationships more than possessions. From the Monitor staff, have a happy and safe holiday season with those whom you love. We look forward to seeing you on the Hill next year.