In defence of the commercialisation of Christmas

Let’s stop moaning about what Christmas is not, and start living out what it is, says Jonty Langley. If Christians show people the difference Jesus makes to our lives all year round, maybe they’ll see past the presents and parties to the real reason for the season

Ah, Christmas! The chill bite in the air, the smell of chestnuts roasting and that unmistakable jingling sound: money changing hands.

Some people say Christmas has become too commercialised. That the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ is belittled and tarnished by turning the remembrance into a festival of commerce, over-indulgence and gift-buying. And you can see their point. Or, rather, you can see that they have missed the point.

Jesus is not the reason for the season, not for most people. And puffing our cheeks and going red in the face like Christmas gammons about it won’t change the facts.