Rightly or wrongly, shopping for presents is an important part of Christmas for a lot of people and despite the increase in online shopping, walking the streets for the ideal gift is a mainstay of many a seasonal routine. People buzzing around, themed signs and shop windows, and long opening hours guiding people through their foraging and harvesting. Even the street decorations are a signal of the underbed of commercialism.
However it’s worthwhile to remember that it’s not the shopping that’s important; that’s only a part of the journey. The real goal is the excitement in giving a gift that lights up a face and receiving a gift that warms the heart.