The Secularisation of Advent

As we are all aware Christmas holidays have become extremely materialistic. In the secular world the Holy season has been reduced to parties, shopping and toys. However, it may have gone unnoticed that Advent has also succumbed to commercialisation.

Coming up on Christmas, there are vast amounts of secular promotions, which all begin in October. These range from advertisements for Christmas party venues, decorations, food, not to mention toys. There are also a lot of events such as pantomimes, Christmas shows, funfairs, and overpriced artisan and food markets. There are a vast number of critics of this season, not only from Catholics and the distraction from the true significance of Christmas, but from the secular realm too.

The secular voices began to criticise the shallow money grabbing side of Christmas because it puts people into debt and can create division and domestic issues. These opinions became more prominent during and after the government mandated Lockdowns. People realised how much money they were wasting on cheap tacky rubbish, which would end up in the bin by Little Christmas in January. It is good that people are thinking and reflecting on their holiday purchases. However, this condemnation does not discriminate between the secular and the Catholic celebrations.

Sometimes, when denouncing the commodification of Christmas, opportunists will include Catholicism under that umbrella. For example, someone might say ‘oh, isn’t Christmas terrible, all that money spent on toys, they should do away with it altogether!’ This is not a statement borne out of moral discernment; it is a convenient method of associating a negative societal effect with our religion.

However, it’s not just Christmas that has become adulterated by commercialism. So has Advent, and it is so insidious that people may not have noticed. To begin, the Catholic Advent Calendar looks like this:

• The First Sunday of Advent (Closest Sunday to the 30 November)

• The Second Sunday of Advent December 8

• The Third Sunday of Advent December 15

• The Fourth Sunday of Advent December 22

• Christmas Eve Midnight

• (… and all the Holy days and prayers in between)

  
  

Then there is the secular Advent calendar, which looks like this:

• Every Day from December 1 to December 24

But what are the secular Advent calendars about? Well, it depends on what cartoon you like. There are calendars themed around animation where you can learn about your favourite kids show and their zany Adventures each day of Advent. No Catholicism there. Of course, having stories on Advent calendars is relatively new. Most of the displays in the supermarkets/malls are based around chocolate and sweets. Every day there is a little cardboard window with a picture of a snowman or a present. Opening the window reveals a treat. What does this have to do with preparing for Jesus?

It could be said that these Advent calendars are just a novelty for children. However, it’s not just children. In pharmacists and ‘beauty’ stores there are cosmetic Advent calendars, with different pieces of concealer, lipstick etc. for each day; so young people can hide their faces behind colourful chemicals in the run up to Christmas. That’s not all, there are Advent calendars for soccer, crystals, magic and even deodorant (Happy Holidays! I got you a box of deodorant! That’s a bit insulting…) All of these are very commercial and shallow, but it’s not the worst.

In stores and online there are Advent calendars for alcohol and vapes. Yes, when preparing for Christmas, shoppers can indulge in alcohol or nicotine, all in the name of Advent. Everyone, not just Catholics, is trying to discourage alcoholism and vaping in society, and yet these products are available. As for all the others, on a purely financial level, the amount of product in the calendar is less than if someone bought a regular box of chocolates, shoppers are basically paying for a colourful cardboard box.

Despite financial issues, these boxes/calendars shouldn’t be called after Advent. Advent is a sacred time when we prepare for the arrival of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. It shouldn’t be tarnished with products, shows, make-up or alcohol. These wares are just forms of indulgence and decadence, they encourage gluttony, intoxication and vanity. It is the polar opposite of the magnificence of Advent. These merchandisers are piggybacking on Advent, just like they piggyback on Christmas.

Christmas has been commercially exploited for a long time, however now Advent has been added to the product line. Not only that, but the Advent Calendar seems to have been replaced by a secular version that encourages decadent behaviours and attempts to distort the meaning of Advent from a sacred Religious time to a tacky, temporary thrill that will last no longer than the cheap treat behind a cardboard window.