dramatically. When I was little I’d get one big gift like a doll, and I’d hang up a sock because we didn’t have stockings – in that I’d get a penny, a sixpence and a tangerine! Now children’s Christmas lists are incredibly extravagant and a lot of parents think they need to buy everything on the list for them to enjoy the festive season. Plus Christmas goodwill has dwindled dramatically. When I was little we looked out for older members of the community, taking them food or spending time with them, but I think people are too focused on themselves now to do that.” Do you believe Christmas has become too commercial? Bev: “It’s certainly become the most lucrative time of year for a lot of companies, so they inevitably pile the pressure on to consumers through advertising
READER PROFILES:
HELEN HEWITT, 60 An author and clinical psychologist from Cheshire, Helen believes parents need to teach their children that Christmas isn’t just about presents.
ROSEMARY CARTMELL, 56 Thinks Christmas spirit can still exist in small towns but not in large cities. Rosemary works in a care home and lives in York.
and by selling their products much earlier. Children are bombarded with images of toys and gadgets and I know a lot of parents who buy things because they don’t want their children being ostracised at school for not having the latest thing. It’s unfortunate it’s gone that way because my sister lives in Geneva in Switzerland and over there they don’t start putting decorations up, even in the city, until 12 days before Christmas. So some
countries have been able to keep up the traditional
BEV HULME, 41 A marketing manager from Stockport, Bev believes people nowadays are too busy to consider the true meaning of Christmas.
side and not let the whole season be about shopping.” Helen: “I also think Christmas has become too commercial here, but that’s because people buy into it. When my children were little there were lots of adverts on TV and they’d ask for all sorts of things, but that didn’t mean they got them all. Parents are too soft now and it’s creating a generation of children who only care about material things – it becomes more apparent than ever at Christmas time.” Bev: “But it’s the banks and retailers who have encouraged people to be materialistic because the whole way in which we can purchase things has changed. It used to be that you could only spend whatever money you’d put aside for Christmas, but now credit cards give people access to things they can’t necessarily afford.” Rosemary: “Yes my daughter does that. She spent nearly £1,000 on her boys’ Christmas presents last year