Glance around social media in recent years and one would think American Christmas traditions revolve around elf-on-the-shelf pranks, movies such as “A Christmas Story” and “Home Alone,” and tortured portrait sessions that magically become pristine family photo cards. These can all be fun Christmas traditions, but take a step back and look at them with an objective eye for a moment.
Do they ever seem a bit, well, shallow—if not self-centered and busy?
