Christmas Comes Early This Year
Published November 23rd, 2009 in It's Really Just All About Me....Every year, I complain about how soon they roll out the Christmas season. Many others join me in whining about how eager the stores are to put out their decorations and how soon the commercials start.
This year, they’re at it again. The Holiday Season is in full swing, several weeks before Thanksgiving. Some were advertising the yuletide merriment before Halloween…
Yes, it’s getting crazy. I’m already seeing the commercials for crappy heart-shaped jewelry, cars with big red bows on top, and cheap perfume. The radio station that plays Christmas songs 24/7? That started here at the beginning of November. And for the past two weeks, I’ve been watching people put up (AND turn on) their Christmas lights on their homes.
On Saturday, I saw someone driving home with their freshly cut tree on top of their car! Five weeks before the big day! By the time Christmas gets here, their tree will be nothing but a pile of brown bristles on the living room carpet…
But then I got to thinking about everything.
This has been a tough year on a lot of people. The economy is down but most people I know have kept their jobs. And they are bombarded by news of foreclosures, job losses, and failing 401Ks. The security blanket is gone and people have been on edge for a long time.
I think people needed Christmas a little earlier this year. They wanted to feel comforted by the thoughts of Santa Claus, and sparkling icicle lights, and a big green wreath hanging on the door. Even the thought of Thanksgiving doesn’t do it - people needed the big holiday to bring them around and make them feel secure again. Make them smile.
Even if, come January, they realize the Christmas season wasn’t as glamorous or romantic as they thought it would be, I bet it will give most the drive to carry on.
So… I guess it really is okay if Christmas comes a little early this year. Just don’t get used to it. I like to look forward to Thanksgiving without being surrounded by Christmas cheer.
I hate the early Xmas thing. Many of my neighbors had their Xmas lights up before Thanksgiving. But I agree…it is OK this year. I’ll let it slide. If it gives those unfortunate people without jobs, without the money to buy Xmas gift…even a small slice of happiness it is worth it. And if all of the early Xmas celebration fades after Xmas…there is always New Years Eve to get in a drunken state and forget about it for a day.
I never thought about it that way and that’s a really great point. Aside from people being trampled at a superstore while trying to get a great deal on a DVD player, the holiday season usually does seem to bring out the nice in most people. People give more, smile more and take time out of their day to think about others more. And that is what a lot of us need… to take a step away from our own lives and think about our fellow man. In addition to maybe helping out someone in need, you are doing yourself a favor by focusing your attention outward.
As far as the holiday decorations and such… we put our lights out last Sunday. We’ll hold off on buying the tree until later this week, but my MIL brought up a great point this weekend — even if we don’t buy are tree today, it was still cut down a while ago. So maybe it isn’t so bad buying your tree early.