By Micah Steffens
Christmas has always been a big part of my life, as anyone else. From the MANY family gatherings to waking up early and running to the tree to see what Santa left. As a little kid, it always felt magical. But as the years went by, it lost its magic. I still had the same family gatherings to go to, the same tree to put up, yet something was off. Was it because I was just older, and instead of being excited for presents, I was just sad at the fact my bank account was going to be drained at this time for the rest of my life? I just couldn’t figure it out until this past December, when companies rolled out their Christmas adverts. Some funny, most meaning nothing, but one really made me see just what it was that was bothering me. Coca Cola’s AI advert.
Something that should just be an ad to get me to buy pop helped me realize just how commercialized Christmas really is nowadays. To think that a company that big would rather stick with a soulless advertisement, instead of making a somewhat meaningful ad that would feed the families of employees who made it, was such a turnoff to the season. And unfortunately, that’s the only advertisement I can even remember. Streaming services are so big, I hardly see ads anymore. Yeah, I love having no commercials, but there are two points every year that I actually don’t mind seeing a well put together advertisement: The Super Bowl and Christmas. Sitting and watching a movie with the family, and getting a commercial for say, Legos, was always fun to see as a child. Yes, of course parents would groan because it would mean just another toy to add to the list, but as a child, you could really get an idea as to what you want. The only commercials I see now are on YouTube, and they don’t look very festive at all either.
I would like to blame streaming services for aiding in the death of Christmas. In terms of media, watching TV during this time usually meant Christmas specials. Movies such as “A Christmas Carol” or “The Polar Express” were staples, and that isn’t even mentioning the classics that generations before me were enjoying. To be honest, I can’t think of many movies made in the last five or so years that actually stick with me, and if we go back to commercials, the ONLY commercial that stuck with me in that same timeframe was the Sprite Cranberry commercial with Lebron James. I mean do companies even try anymore?
Another factor to add in with this is the weather. Winter here has been wimpy in the last couple years, and even now (as of December 18) it is raining. Although the amount of snow we have gotten is nice, the warmth we’re experiencing is out of place. It’s tough for children in the area to experience winter when it’s raining (or when there’s a tornado touching down, such as a couple years back).
So is there a fix to this? Well, while the issues are there, I myself can’t figure out a solution. We can’t control the weather, I doubt streaming services are going to leave our TVs anytime soon, and commercials will remain just as unoriginal. The rise of AI and companies wanting the most profit could very well have AI replace directors and actors/animators. I would be interested in hearing solutions though, if anyone can think of any. In the meantime, Christmas seems to remain floating in this commercialized state of purgatory, and we’re all stuck with it.
Micah Steffens is a Fillmore Central High School student, one of 10 area students participating in the Journal Writing Project, now in its 27th year.
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