With a shopping frenzy all month long, have we forgotten the true meaning of our holiday traditions?

Happy: Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Three Kings Day, St. Lucia Day and Ramadan to name a few of the wonderful holidays celebrated in December!

Is Boxing Day really when we take back the gifts we don’t want – nope it comes from the gifts you give your staff.

The Salvation Army will accept online donations – are bell ringers and Santa’s old school?

Greeting cards have gone digital with eCards and Facebook wishes – does your mailbox seem lonely?

Santa is being tracked by big brother NORAD – no more waiting to see if you can stay up and catch of Jolly old St Nick!

No space for a fireplace – you can download a fireplace, menorah or yule log app to your TV.

Days of searching stores for Cabbage Patch and Elmo have made their way online and being on Thanksgiving.

Your Betty Crocker cookbook from the 1950’s has been upgraded to Allrecipes.com on your tablet.

Skype and Facetime are replacing expensive flights and treacherous snowstorm driving.

With all these changes, one has to wonder if holidays are losing their meaning. A holiday is a wonderful time to relax and often come together with family and friends. A holiday is a relief from the pressures of work. It’s a time to goof off and sleep late.

So we say NO.

Whether you celebrate for religious reasons or political or fun, the meaning comes from the effort you put behind it. Yes, technology has changed how we prepare and celebrate but it doesn’t change the reason – so let’s remember and share some good cheer.