Christmas between commerce and family

In this text I analyse Christmas as a ritual, invented tradition, which helps, among other things, to create and maintain various aspects of contemporary realities in euromerican "secular" societies. The main theoretical background comes from Bruce Kapferer's notion of ritual and virtuality. Short history of "invention" of Christmas is mentioned. The main focus of the essay is however the exchange of Christmas presents and the way their movement in ritual space supports additional values and meanings embedded in Christmas. While the Christmas gifts serve as a useful example, the virtuality of Christmas and its role in construction of family and market could be explored also in additional contexts.In this text I analyse Christmas as a ritual, invented tradition, which helps, among other things, to create and maintain various aspects of contemporary realities in euromerican "secular" societies. The main theoretical background comes from Bruce Kapferer's notion of ritual and virtuality. Short history of "invention" of Christmas is mentioned. The main focus of the essay is however the exchange of Christmas presents and the way their movement in ritual space supports additional values and meanings embedded in Christmas. While the Christmas gifts serve as a useful example, the virtuality of Christmas and its role in construction of family and market could be explored also in additional contexts