Through the years, Christmas has changed from family gathering, fun, joyful religious holiday to a day focused on who receives what and how great the value of the gift is. In the short story “Noel” we see this theory come into play. This short story shows how this holiday is not what it used to be. Christmas has changed from a traditional celebration to a modernized day in which is focused around money and receiving. Several patterns are recognized in this story and can provide evidence to prove my opening statement correct. In the story, a traditional display of Christmas is shown when couples come to “rent” kids to be apart of their “family” for Christmas. The story states, “A little squeak of joy escaped into the room as Melinda jumped
