By CUEvangelist – Originally Published by CUInsight – November 26, 2025

Recently, you may have noticed a rising call to action on social media to “Cancel Christmas” or “Boycott Christmas.” While some of those video posts on the various platforms are meant to be provocative to receive engagement and likes, many express genuine frustrations with the growing commercialization of the holiday season and what some describe as corporate indifference to people and communities. The message behind this “movement’ is less about ending Christmas and more about challenging what has become a season of putting profits before people.

This “Cancel Christmas” trend has emerged as a reaction to what many view as a shallow, hollow capitalistic industry. Critics argue that major corporations profit massively on Black Friday and the month of December while ignoring the social and economic realities facing workers and families of modest means. Social media influencers point to inflated prices, low wages, and a lack of corporate responsibility.

From this perspective, “canceling Christmas” isn’t about boycotting the joy or generosity of the season, but rather it’s a protest against corporate exploitation, perceived political cowardness, and a call for companies to rediscover positive community engagement. It reflects a strong desire for corporations to understand that the issues and concerns of their customers are just as important as the dividend payouts of shareholders.

This backlash highlights a growing divide between corporate behavior and community well-being. When profits are placed before people, businesses risk losing trust and purpose. The modern consumer, especially in younger generations, is increasingly drawn to organizations that align with their values, support financial wellness, and reinvest in their communities.

This is where credit unions stand apart. Founded on the principle of “People Helping People,” credit unions represent the very opposite of corporate indifference. They are not-for-profit, member-owned, and community-driven. Their mission is not to maximize shareholder return but to improve members’ lives through fair and affordable financial services and cooperative values.

For credit unions, the current debate over consumerism offers both a challenge and an opportunity. The challenge is to ensure holiday promotions and campaigns stay rooted in service rather than just sales. The opportunity is to lead by example through promoting financial wellbeing instead of increasing holiday debt, supporting local small businesses and nonprofits, and employing the residents of the neighborhoods where credit unions transact business.

Credit unions can also use the holiday season to feature acts of generosity, from community toy drives to scholarship programs, proving that financial institutions can serve a higher purpose and be socially responsible.

The “Cancel Christmas” conversation is, at its core, a call to conscience. It asks every business, especially financial institutions, to re-evaluate what they stand for. For credit unions, the response lies in the reemphasis of their cooperative roots, demonstrating that commerce can coexist with compassion, and that financial growth means little without social responsibility.

So, no we don’t need to cancel Christmas. However, we should cancel corporate indifference and putting profits before people. Credit unions can answer the call to revive the spirit of “People Helping People” that defines what this season and the credit union movement are truly about.

Mark S. Brantley, Esq. is currently known as the CUEvangelist – “Spreading the Good News About CUs!” Mark is also an Asst. Director of Operations at Arizona State University and was the former vice-chairman of the AACUC, former board member of America’s Credit Unions (formerly CUNA), and former Chairman of the Municipal Credit Union. He has written numerous articles and white papers on credit union advocacy, legislative, and regulatory matters.