"We all know that Christmas is a big commercial racket. It's run by a big eastern syndicate you know."

As I write this column it is now 31 shopping days until Christmas, and I have one question. Is it just me or has anyone noticed that society forgot what Christmas really means?

The public’s belief when it comes to the holiday season every year is buying the right gifts for their son, daughter, mom, dad, relatives and even their dog. Most though don’t do it in a holiday mood. Almost everyone I’ve seen at the malls beginning the day after Thanksgiving is having a bad hair day.

Perhaps there were too many cars in the parking lot because they had to walk a great many miles to get to the store. Or it is simply just too many people packed in the malls to move around freely. Pity the underpaid employees with smiles on their faces who are forced to be courteous to such irate vultures only to have their required acts of kindness thrown back in their faces. A guy I know who has the unfortunate pleasure of working in retail said to me last year, “If these people would go to church, they wouldn’t be so mad all the time.”

“Christmas has become too commercial,” said a woman I know at work who planned on buying only gift certificates for people this year. “It’s all about money.”

It isn’t just about money. Has anyone ever had a perfect stranger wish them a Merry Christmas or Happy New Year? The last time I remember any of that happening was three decades ago. It was one of those rare December days in Chicago where the temperature was in the mid 60s and the sun was out. My mom, my sister and I were riding our bikes in the forest reserve trails; something Dallas doesn’t have. As we passed people by, everyone was wishing each other Merry Christmas whether they were on their bikes or taking a walk. Other than hearing it from co-workers, relatives, parents, and siblings, I have not heard that kind of holiday greeting come out of anyone’s mouths since.

What does Christmas mean to me? When I was in grammar school, Christmas was my favorite time of the year because there was snow on the ground and school was out for about two weeks. The usual ritual for our family was my parents would wake my sister and I up after midnight or 1 a.m. to let us know Santa just left. I would find, in my case, numerous Star Wars toys and space Lego sets near the tree. Toys of which are now gone or were sold to hobby shops for cash. Back then, our usual tradition was spending time at the grandparent’s house, eating dinner and exchanging gifts. I miss those days.

The best thing about Christmas in Dallas today is how people here go all out decorating their homes with lights. Chicago residents can’t do that with all the snow on the ground.

My main concern or focus today is not so much on gift giving. If I want anything, I go buy it myself. Now that we have established why I never have any money, I can say the best thing to get for people is gift certificates. Christmas, however, is more than that. It is spending that one time of the year with family and friends whom you never see except when you talk on the phone. It also means for those of us who go to church only once or twice a year, which is Christmas and Easter, like I do and those who go every week, celebrate the birth of Christ. It is about family and religion.

Not everyone today thinks that way. To them, this holiday is all about money.

To quote Lucy from "A Charlie Brown Christmas" (1965), “We all know that Christmas is a big commercial racket. It's run by a big eastern syndicate, you know.”

Then again, I think the spirit of Christmas died decades ago when NBC bought the rights to show "It's a Wonderful Life" (1946) once a year. I miss those days in December where that film was shown every day up until New Year’s. I don’t know the exact reason why the classic film was made exclusive only to NBC, but I am sure it had something to do with money.

©11/25/11