Meaning of Christmas is not lost in hype
Commercialization doesn't ruin sentiment of season
Jason Schnabel, Nickerson junior, and his roommate Konan Hauser, Hutchinson junior, pick out ornaments for their Christmas tree. Schnabel and Hauser said the tree gave the apartment "a touch of home."
By Deedra Allison Special to the Kansan
Susan McSpadden/KANSAN
"Silver bells. Silver bells. It's Christmas time in the city." How can you tell? Just ask Santa at the mall. The original meaning of Christmas centers around the birth of a savior, but retailers have hyped the holiday into something else.
For some, the true meaning isn't completely lost.
"I think it's awesome," said Mark Skolaut, Olmitz sophomore. "It's incredible that the Christian world as a whole celebrates Christmas."
Laura Peterson, Olathe freshman, said that Christmas was a time for family to get together. She said that she thinks malls and businesses that commercialize Christmas are self-serving and have gone too far.
"It's just a moneymaking process," she said. "I think they're doing it for the good will of their bookbooks."
Retailers bombard shoppers with Christmas music and snowy decorations as early as the day after Halloween. As Christmas gets closer, benches and trash cans are pushed aside to make room for shiny Santas and enormous trees.
Skolaut, however, said that he thought commercializing Christmas was not detrimental to the true meaning. But others say it may be a little too much.
"They go overboard with decorations and candy canes, especially so early," said Jason Schnabel. Nickerson junior.
Malls acknowledge that the day after Thanksgiving is the biggest shopping day of the year. Melissa McCollough, Pratt junior, said that she avoided shopping that day because of the crowds.
Still, people manage to internalize the meaning of Christmas.
"The build-up is especially good for kids," Schnabel said. "They always get excited. I love that."
He said he loves seeing his younger brothers shaking presents.
"That's what it should be about." he said.
Perhaps the hype at the mall stirs the feelings associated with Christmas.
"Christmas would be missing something if there wasn't a to-do about it," Peterson said.
Skolaut said that he was not offended by the commercialization. He said that although Christmas was a spiritual time, "We don't need to be 'religious' about it. We should have fun and rejoice."
A person doesn't need to have a religious upbringing to appreciate the excitement Christmas generates. Because of his upbringing, Schnabel said, he doesn't think of Christmas in a religious sense.
"Christmas is seeing my family, dinner at Grandma's once a year and playing with my cousins," he said.
The Christmas excitement businesses arouse can also bring positive rewards for people who do not believe in the Christian holiday.
McCollohough agreed. She said the hype helped get people in the Christmas mood. Also, activities like food drives are more successful at this time of year, she said.
"I like having the Santas hang out of the corners bumming for money," Schnabel said. "It's for a good cause. It's supposed to make people feel good."
Even though stores start taking down decorations the day after Christmas, for Schnabel, the Christmas season won't be over.
"It doesn't go away until a few days after New Year's," he said.
Toys for Tots launches another year of giving
Organization works so kids won't go toyless
By Kimberly Cashman Special to the Kansan
Paul Kotz / KANSAN
Remember the excitement of waking up Christmas morning to the sight of presents waiting to be ripped open under the glow of the lights on the Christmas tree?
The fourth annual Toys for Tots telethon, "Remember the Feeling," sponsored by Sunflower Cablevision, will be from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday on Channel 6.
"We expect the need will be greater this year because of this year's flood and because of area businesses downsizing and closing," said Jan McNish, office manager at Sunflower Cablevision and organizer of this year's event. The local telethon provides Christmas gifts to Douglas County children, from newborns to 18-year-olds, she said.
"I believe our program is successful because it focuses on kids, it is completely local and 100 percent of the cash donations go back toward purchasing gifts," McNish said.
Last year's campaign generated over 6,700 toys, $9,100 in cash and hundreds of stockings, McNish said.
The fourth annual Toys for Tots campaign brings toys to youths from newborns to 18-year-olds. The Toys for Tots telethon, "Remember the Feeling," will be televised from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday on Channel 6.
Local businesses donate all administrative expenses, she said.
Last year's donations helped 865 families, said Capt. George Windham, commanding officer of the Salvation Army in Lawrence, which is a co-sponsor of the event. "There is no reason why any child in Douglas County should not have a toy for Christmas."
The Marine Corps Reserve, another co-sponsor of the event, provides the drop-off boxes and posters for the campaign. McNish said.
Once collected, the toys are sorted into age and sex categories and transported to
the Toy Shop at the National Guard Armory, 200 Iowa St., where they will be distributed Dec. 15 and 16, she said.
"Many people do not think about teenagers with the name 'Toys for Tots,' " Brown said.
KJHK is sponsoring a benefit concert Friday at Benchwarmers Sports Bar and Grill, 1601 W. 23rd St., with the bands Sufferbus and Kill Creek playing, said Craig Brown, sports director for KJHK. All donations will go directly to the toy fund, he said.
Windham said that families needing help must register with the Holiday Bureau. The bureau consists of several agencies, including the Salvation Army, Ballard Community Center, the Indian Center of Lawrence, the Help Connection and the Penn House.
The money donated will go directly to buy gifts for older kids, he said.
"KJHK is always looking for ways to get involved in the community and to give to organizations in need," said Brown.
Drop-off boxes for donations are located in each floor lobby of all University of Kansas residence halls, Brown said. The Association of University Residence Halls has donated a $150 prize for the floor that donates the most toys, he said.
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Additional drop-box sites include Jayhawker Towers, facilities operations and more than 50 businesses in Lawrence.
December 8, 1993 K-you • COMMUNITY
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