December 8, 1999

More Americans seek
simplicity at Christmas
___TAKOMA PARK, Md. (RNS)--The vast majority of Americans feel the holidays have become too commercial, and 58 percent say they have tried to simplify their holiday celebrations, a new poll shows.
___The poll of 1,015 adults across the country was commissioned by the Center for a New American Dream, a non-profit organization based in Takoma Park, Md.
___It found 91 percent of Americans think the holidays are too commercialized and the idea of "peace on earth" has been forgotten by too many people.
___The study indicates people are starting to act on those sentiments, with three out of five saying they have started to buy fewer gifts or simplify their celebration in other ways.
___"People are learning to reconnect with the joyfulness of the holiday," said Betsy Taylor, executive director of the Center for a New American Dream. "A third of the people we surveyed told us that they were simplifying their holidays to have a celebration that is more in keeping with their family's values. And almost one in four said they made changes to reduce stress or have more time with their friends and family."

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