A Commercialized Christmas

Christmas at Regent Street

By: Elizabeth Marshall  

The Regent Street Lighting, I have to say definitely got me in the holiday spirit. It was the first day in about a week that I really got out of the flat because I had been sick all weekend. While walking down Regent Street at first I was unawares as to wear we needed to go, but then we started to hear the Christmas music, and the loads of people watching the live performances. Unfortunately, I missed the majority of the choir singing Christmas songs, but the end that I caught was very heart warming. Of course they had to end their set with ‘All I Want For Christmas Is You’ which to me, ever since the movie ‘Love Actually’ has become a very iconic British Christmas song. They sang it all beautifully and of course I sang along with tons of other spectators enjoying the night and awaiting the lights. The less spectacular part of the night was when last years winner of X-Factor and Kelly Clarkson both sang. I was looking forward to hear more Christmas music, but instead to my dismay I heard two vocalists promoting their new albums instead of the Christmas season. I thought that at first they were possibly just maybe going to sing one song from their new album, and that they had to end with at least one Christmas song, but no… both songs they sang were pop songs that are regularly heard on the radio. It almost ruined the evening, if not for the fireworks that went off during the turning on the lights, I would have been extremely disappointed.

            When coming to a Christmas or Holiday event when the event is specifically Christmas oriented and all about lighting Christmas lights, you expect Christmas geared entertainment. At least I was, and unfortunately, I was mistaken. It seems that now a days Christmas is no longer about enjoying the music and lights, or the magic of Christmas without getting an angle in it. The whole event was based on promoting movies, albums and people. What happened to just celebrating Christmas? I have to admit that despite the music and promotions that obscured your view I had fun. The lights and fireworks were especially fun and a great event to be able to share with friends. The lighting of the Christmas lights on Regent Street definitely jump started my holiday spirit and I look forward to finding more holiday event that I can go to and share with my friends, hopefully some that are actually geared more towards Christmas. I know that Christmas has become entirely too commercialized and advertisement is to be expected, but I guess I had more expectations, and unfortunately they were set too high. I really hope that the next holiday event that I attend is not overshadowed with commercialized products and people looking to take advantage of the holiday season. It would be nice to go to a holiday event that is truly for and about the holidays, but I have yet to witness such a thing this season, but so do look forward to experiencing at least one.