Chances are we will be remembering the Christmas holidays: 2020 edition forever. One of the most awaited celebrations of the year has undergone a dramatic shift due to the coronavirus pandemic, with many staying behind closed doors, opting for virtual conversations with friends and family.

On the other hand, living in the times of the greatest public health crisis in modern history may feel like a perfect time to cut back on holiday-related excesses, like mindless shopping and overabundance of food. According to The Atlantic, “people often identify holiday profligacy as a modern problem, hastened by malls and chain stores and online shopping.”

But it turns out that the history of indulgent celebrations is as old as the history of civilization itself. For example, the ancient Roman holiday of Saturnalia, a days-long December feast, was already criticized for being too materialistic at the time.

These days, Christmas has become a part of our personal and cultural identities that go hand in hand with the capitalist modus operandi. Dell deChant, a religion professor at the University of South Florida, told The Atlantic that in that sense, Christmas is a great normalizing experience. “If we’re not able to consume, then, to a certain extent, we’re marginalized—within the culture, as well as in our own minds.”

But if other years, indulging in the gifts galore and holiday sales shopping was part of the whole experience, this year may be an excellent opportunity to rethink our priorities and turn to what’s really important. After all, an endless sea of discounted candy or perfumed soap isn’t going to make us any happier, but a call to a family member will.