The holiday season kicked off with a bang on Friday. The notorious Black Friday had customers waiting in line for days just to be a part of the “Christmas Deals”.  It is at this point that we must ask ourselves: Where have we gone wrong?

Consumerism thrives on the holiday season because of the gift giving obligations that we embrace. Why? What has made money and gifts so important to this society?

In Dr. Seuss’s “How The Grinch Stole Christmas” the Grinch believes that the meaning of Christmas lies in the gifts that line the underside of every tree. Much to the Grinch’s dismay, Christmas came even after he attempted to steal it from Whoville.

“It came without ribbons. It came without tags. It came without packages, boxes or bags!” said the Grinch.

Now, what can we learn from a children’s book? We can learn that there are more important things than presents, deals and gadgets. It is about being with those we love and cherish. That is what matters throughout the season.

Also, Christmas itself has become a gift-a-thon for those who don’t celebrate it as a religion. It has lost its meaning in general. As we decorate our homes and consume all that we can, there is more to be thought about.

What about those who have nothing and no one for the holidays? It is easy to turn away from such an unpleasant reality but why do we ignore the less fortunate? The argument can be made donations to shelters and the Salvation Army supplement the difference but that is not entirely true.

There are still far too many people going without food and shelter for the holidays while the rest of us are warm and complaining about how we do not have an iPad. To those that volunteer at shelters and to those that donate, I offer my applause. As a society we need to stand up together to face poverty and what better time to do so than during the holidays?

If we can come together to boost mere donations throughout the season, we can come together to take on the issue as a whole. It is time to end the superficial understanding of Christmas, for those that celebrate it, and the holidays for others.

When doing your holiday shopping this year I urge you to consider those less fortunate. I urge you to take on an air of responsibility for bettering one person’s life a day. Whether you make a donation, sit down and talk to the less fortunate or volunteer, a difference is being made.

Organize groups of friends and family to help spread the cheer. Make your activity one that defines what it means to celebrate Christmas in the truest sense. Share that feeling not just with those around you but also those without the means that you have.

As students we don’t have much but we do have our minds. We can get creative about ways to help others and I know that we can make a difference this year. Extend your heart and hands to those around you to realize what the Grinch did. Christmas doesn’t come in a bag.