Much has been written about the meaning of Christmas.

For most of us, the meaning transforms from being mostly about the presents we receive to the greater, more adult, lessons of Christmas. Lessons like giving and the miracle of the Christ-child’s birth.

But for millions of Americans, this year’s Christmas may be different.

In a world in which commercialism has consistently been king, we’re now beginning to see that change slightly.

With a greatly slowed national economy and a continually slowing global economy, the world has changed a little this year.

And the meaning of Christmas is getting back to its roots a bit.

Retailers are feverishly working to get customers into their stores and spending money.

Many consumers are simply choosing to cut back a little this year.

Years ago, Christmas gifts were often things that today we take for granted, a precious piece of fruit, for example, or a single doll.

Today, all too often, we’re almost too blessed. We don’t just want one doll; we want a collection. We don’t just want a piece of fruit; we want boxes of the stuff.

If there’s a silver lining in the slowness we’re seeing in the economy is that consumers may be getting back to the basics of life. And in that journey, perhaps, we’ll all remember that Christmas isn’t about things, it’s about people, and in particular the birth of one person.