Some of those who voted YES had this to say:
• It has become a statement of fashion sense, power of wealth by littering our own homes with those expensive yet Chinese decoration lights. See around any neighbourhood n one can see y these people are all just trying to showoff rather than knowing the real meaning of christmas. The real meaning of christmas is to decorate our hearts with peace, love and friendship like our Lord Jesus did with his coming to earth on this special day.
• Yes, Nagas have lost the meaning of Christmas. It has now been reduced to consumerism and gifts. It reflects the shallow understanding and practice of the Christian faith in Nagaland.
• They only look forward to gifts and all...
• Come December, Naga guys will be taking their fathers car and flirting with girls in a pub over some wine n whiskey. Its a pathetic feeling to see our distinguished govt. servants car n boleros being station in front of all the famous bars n lounges in kma n dmpr. Its really a thing we shud do away with. Y dont they go to mass prayers n attend church services to enjoy life with their parents n embracing the spirit of Christmas honestly n hoilier than thou...booze joints can wait 4 new year celebration.
• Nagas have lost the spirit of Christmas long time ago. Something must be done to inflict the real meaning of Christmas into our peoples mind, esp. the youths.
• Come the festive season and our naga youths are given the license to 'rampage'!!!! They get on with the milking their parents pockets and spending it over booze n girls. The real meaning is lost doing things which we should have kept out at least in this time of the year. GOD HELP THE NAGA YOUTHS!!!
• ALL of these fiasco is due to the Naga youths trying to copycat the koreans and americans life-style. They must know their grandfather still wears animal hides n grandmothers wear nothing xcept a small piece of cloth to retain the respect. We are far far away from being koreans n americans. First of all, why dont u become somebody, then take ur own cars n bolero with ur wife n children and share the spirit of cmas with ur dear n loved ones.
• THE town committees should order a ban of all lounges n bars at least from 20th to 31st December if we want to see people attending church services rather than loitering around all these pitstops.
• ..another long holiday; Entertainments, Fun! I suppose. Do we? I'm afraid we are losing it to having ourselves entertained, just that now everyone is around the corner.
• Yes. We are commercializing christmas.
• Yes we nagas should learn that c/mas season is to gather with frens n families n give thanks for the whole year, keeping us hale n hearty. Instead we have bcom too materialistic that the real meaning of cmas is left behind. Parents shud teach their wards that this season is the tym to spent time with the families.
• yeap! westernisation, alcoholsation, wannabesation etc being the main influence
• yes. Real Christmas meaning is being lost in various forms of Interpretation.
• Just by lighting ur house with all the decos n stars of different colors will not bring happiness n comforts meant to b among us at this tym. U may be lighting the best n the brightest star in town, but if ur heart n mind is all but plotting evil ways to earn n live, am sorry that C/mas came to Nagaland n brought the birth of threats n collections.
• Yes we r losing the real meaning of Christmas. It has become more of a long holiday 2 party.
• Yes, our contemporary christmas has become purely material which can be observed in everyone either way. The only solution to reaffirm the meaning of Christmas is 'living the Christian in truth as in the Bible, to the dot'. Nothing more, nothing less.
• People have forgotten what Christmas really is for..at this current junction it is all about partying n enjoyment.
• Nowadays we celebrate pre-christmas which was unheard of in our earlier days, diluting the real Christmas. Is there a mention of pre-christmas anywhere? We have a big stomach and are parasitic in nature that we depend on Walletwalla to fund our stomach.
• For most, Christmas means a time of alcoholic party with all the wrong reasons not knowing that Christmas without Christ has no meaning of celebration. It's just another secular celebration for many Nagas like the way people celebrate in other cities in India and elsewhere.
Some of those who voted NO had this to say:
• Nagas are really pious, and nothing gives more joy than the birthday of Jesus Christ, so what if the celebrations are a little more enhanced. its nothing but spontaneous outpouring of joy. Think what u may.
• I think the majority of the people still hold the true meaning of Christmas in their hearts. At the same time there is no doubt that consumerism is increasing rapidly in Nagaland during Christmas. Its quite funny. During festivals like Diwali and Puja, there is a lot of discount, such as Diwali offer, Puja discount and so on. But believe me, during Christmas all prices sky rocket like no body’s business. This also means that the business community knowing that the public will buy anything, is making brisk business at the cost of the people. Organizations like the Chamber of Commerce and the Consumer organizations should check the inflation of prices. It is because of such illegal practices that consumerism is also increasing rapidly.
• More engrossed with fun and merry making rather than the real understanding of spirituality of love and forgiveness.
• The true meaning of Christmas is not lost, but how we celebrate Christmas needs more retrospection, so that we do not abuse the spirit of Christmas. This is the challenge for the Churches specially, because very often they are the ones that are the most indulgent during this time of the year.
Some of those who voted OTHERS had this to say:
• This response cannot be generalized. Christmas no doubt is a time of celebration, but how we celebrate this season is more important. The coming of Christ into this world is remarkable and it lays the basis for Good Friday and Easter Sunday. Without Christmas, there definitely would be neither of these two. What is important is for our Church Leaders to educate and provide sermons and teachings that have relevance in our situation. There should be a balance in our celebration as well as with our spiritual growth. Christmas should be celebrated with solemn dignity. I therefore personally don’t like the idea of Churches organizing Christmas services in the open playground because it takes away the spirit of Christmas. There should be a better way to observe this significant day.
• I'm glad that Christmas is becoming more of a secular holiday season. Merry Christmas everyone!
• The question in your weekly poll is pertinent not just for Nagas, but for all Christians around the world. With globalization and capitalism taking over the world, even our faith seems to be affected by it. Just turn on the television and all we hear and see is the over indulgence of the Christmas celebration. Is it possible to retain the true spirit of Christmas in such a market driven world?
• If we practically understand the phrase, "love your God and your neighbors as yourself" then hope we can reclaim it, the true one. Amen.
