"Celebrations and holidays are an integral part of our social life. Every culture that has ever existed has used festivities and rituals to organize social life and demonstrate the values of that culture. Can you imagine our lives without days set aside for family, rest, and excitement? This is the benefit of organizing our lives around personal and collective celebrations. In the American context, it is easy for parents to get swept away by the culture of consumerism that often dictates how we celebrate."
"Few of our holidays imbue positive moral values; they largely focus on displays of financial success and gift-giving. Instead of the holidays being an opportunity to truly recharge and reconnect, 60-70 percent of parents report feeling significant stress during the holidays ('Tis the Season to Be... Stressed?, 2021). This is not surprising in the least. Parents feel pressure to commemorate every moment with amateur and increasingly professional photos and make sure to post them to social media for all to see."
"They must make sure the kids get enough gifts and experiences so that they can have a "good" Christmas, and let's not forget the financial stress that follows all that. Surveys report close to half (47 percent) of parents go into debt explicitly for the holidays ("Six in 10 American Parents Are Going into Debt for Their Children," 2025). Parents are not only overworking themselves during the holidays, but they are also creating long-term stress beyond them."
Celebrations and holidays organize social life and demonstrate cultural values while providing days for family, rest, and excitement. In the American context, consumerism often dictates holiday practices, emphasizing displays of financial success and gift-giving rather than moral values. Sixty to seventy percent of parents report significant stress during the holidays, and surveys find close to half of parents go into debt for holiday expenses. Parents face pressure to document and share moments on social media, to supply abundant gifts and experiences, and to manage packed school, work, and activity schedules. Prioritizing rest, recharging, and character-focused celebrations can help reclaim peace during the holidays.
Read at Psychology Today
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