Christmas = Mad rush for Christmas Presents

I'll usually save up for my Christmas spendings. Such like start saving $5 a week and end up with more than $100 for my presents shopping spree. This year, i'm torn with last minute spendings. Such has caused quite a dent in my wallet. Well... Less shopping for myself and more running, swimming and staying home to relax then.

I started my Christmas shopping early this year, had lots of time on hand to burn anyway. It felt like the entire Singapore was out shopping instead of staying at home. Car parking was limited, the malls were crowded and patrons were lining up outside restaurants. I manage to get what i need before i escaped the massive crowd. I came to conclude why is Christmas not only a religious or festive mode, but also a marketing and sales upturn too.

The Christmas spirit is about sharing the love with friends and family. Sharing what you have with strangers and making them feel the warmth in their hearts though its cold outside. But in sunny Singapore, there is seldom a cold moment. It is cold when it is raining, else it's just another hot and humid day. And... With the festive season, companies used it to foster better working relationships by having Christmas dinners and presents exchange programme. This... Became a huge problem for most of my friends.

As you are working in an environment where you see the same people 8 hours a day, 5 days a week. That adds up to more than 40 hours a week if you include overtime. So now you are tasked 'involuntarily' to buy a Christmas present to exchange. What you do? Plus it is always hard when buying gifts for friends of the opposite sex, especially the guys. Guys get it easy as there are tons of stuff marketed at the female population of this world. But the guys usually wants something small yet so expensive. So in comes the unisex gifts such as the daries, calendars, fancy notebooks, etc. These are not only considered the 'safe zone' of gifts for the mysterious receiver, also playing it safe by the mysterious giver.

In the next post, i shall talk more about this gift exchange programme. How it has improved, what it meant now to celebrate Christmas with working colleagues and how the real world changed the true meaning of The Christmas Spirit.