Culture

Holidays: More than Patriotic Flags & Plastic Shopping Bags

How political and economic powers have hijacked our celebrations—and why we need to reclaim them.

Kathleen Austin

20 Feb 2026 — 4 min read

There’s nothing like the anticipation of the holidays. You climb a teetering ladder to tack up wreaths and garlands and lights that you somehow value more than your own neck, and you light a menagerie of seasonal candles that trigger waves of nostalgia. But it’s more than just decor—the magic is real, and as the sparkling lights reflect the twinkle in your eye, you almost feel like a kid again. But then, when the actual holiday arrives, it doesn’t always live up to the hype, and you can be left with a hollow feeling.

I love gathering with friends and family for a holiday meal, but what do we do once our plates are empty? Hopefully, there are some board games to play, but too often we're turning on the TV. At that point, my family and I are usually making repeat trips to the buffet table for one‑to‑many slices of dessert, and for some families, it’s one too many drinks—but it comes down to the same thing: a void that we need to fill.

So, how can we fill our cultural cup? That’s what holidays are supposed to be for after all. But somehow the horn of plenty for the fall harvest is accompanied by presumably patriotic pilgrims, and instead of Santa, you might as well have Jeff Bezos climbing down your chimney—disturbing thoughts to say the least.

The Hijacking of Our Holidays

While we still call holidays “cultural,” political and economic powers have been taking over our holidays, especially in America, for a long time. And this is a big deal—because if our holidays are crammed full of capitalist consumption and patriotic propaganda, we might even forget that holidays are important. That holidays are quite literally a matter of life and death.

Much like every year brings us closer to the grave, every day brings us closer to the darkest days of winter as we spin around on a giant rock with no obvious purpose. So how are human beings supposed to cope? Well, much like our birthdays allow us to flip the script on aging and actually celebrate the passing of our lives, holidays allow us to do the same for the passing of the year.

With every season, every long winter, we gather to announce that we beat the odds, we're still here, and better yet—some of us, at least, are still together.

Holidays can allow us to rise out of the daily grind—out of mere survival—and connect with something greater as we give enhanced meaning to our trips around the sun.

It may seem strange to celebrate as the world is on fire around us. But holidays can be more than just entertainment or fun; they can also be deeply powerful. Holidays can strengthen our ties to the past, to the natural seasons, and to our community. These are the ties that keep us connected, keep us strong, and compel us to care. And that is what will see us through hard times and sustain us as we work for a better future. But this cultural value of the holidays can be dampened if we let patriotism and capitalism take over our celebrations.

Summer, Patriotism, and Consumerism

I was thinking about this a lot during the long, long summer we have here in Virginia. Summer is not my favorite season anymore, but it still offers a lot to celebrate: ocean water warm enough for a swim, fresh berries and peaches to eat, and fresh flowers that make me smile even when it’s 100 degrees and 100 percent humidity and the air is ringing with ravenous mosquitoes. And because summer is now my least favorite season, I really want a good holiday to celebrate, to carry me through the staggering heat and remind me that good times will come again.

Yet summer in America only comes with one major holiday: The 4th of July. Of course, we do summery things on the 4th and we eat plenty of summer berries, but the core of this holiday, its primary meaning, is nationalist. Even today, when we have a literal nazi dictator orangutan as a president, I won’t say it’s wrong to love this country or its flag—the American flag could still be a symbol of hope—hope for a better America, a better future. But I think holidays should also remind us that our value is greater than our citizenship. And without a single summer celebration beyond patriotism, we can become even further disconnected from the changing of the seasons and the passing of time in our own lives.

Of course, the 4th of July does have a second meaning, one that many, if not all American holidays share—an economic meaning. Sales, shopping sprees, and limited-time offers abound as businesses capitalize on holidays to boost profit. Want to decorate your summer table? Don't just pick some flowers: buy these matching plates and mini flags and fireworks on a cocktail stick. They're BOGO free!

Of course, buying things isn’t all bad: We could potentially support local artisans or buy materials to make something ourselves. But holidays can and should remind us that we have human value beyond consumption—in fact, we have inherent value that cannot be monetized, quantified, or even taken away.

Kathleen Austin is a Public Waldorf educator, storyteller, and new parent. She mentors teachers nationwide, speaks on creative education in the AI era, and hosts YouTube’s Unenlightened Generalists (100k+ viewers).\

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