Once upon a time people could at least get through Thanksgiving before being assaulted with the Christmas holiday hype. Not so anymore.
Even before Halloween hit yesterday, I was already getting Christmas marketing hitting me in the Sunday paper. Please, people, can I at least have my Turkey dinner first? Geez.
Part of the reason for this is because Thanksgiving has become a holiday that can't really be exploited for merchandizing. Think about it. There's really no merchandizing to speak of for it. Halloween? Merchandizing of candy, costumes, decorations, fog machines, etc. Not as much as the mother of all merchanized holidays, but still. So I doubt there will be the holiday rush starting much earlier than Halloween, because Halloween at least carries some dollar weight, but it seems Thanksgiving is becoming the holiday that is more of an annoyance to people. I love Thanksgiving. I don't want to have to start stressing about Christmas the day after Halloween.
I used to work in retail and we would stock Christmas stuff (mostly sweets) in stores the first week of September.
Wasn't always like this. Back in the 80s you wouldn't get hit by Christmas holiday hype before December. Times sure have changed.
Times sure have changed?
Odd... Peanuts would make fun of this in one of there cartoons (not sure if it's Thanksgiving, Christmas or Easter, or maybe thier Halloween special) and they are from the 1960's...
I do like the Peanuts cartoon but I'm not a fan about their anti-capital message and dont have the heart to watch the cartoons with our 3-year-old (unless she has a need to see it and so far she doesnt!)
I do believe it's impactive since most of us are living from paycheck to paycheck and dont know where the extra cash for thanksgiving and/or christmas is comming from.
A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving mentioned this back in the '60s. Stan Freberg has a comedy song from like, the '50s, called Green Christmas which mocks the practice of 'Christmas creep'.
I have MusicChoice on my cable system, as well as free movies to rent. On the music stations, heard a couple Christmas songs today, and saw A Christmas Story is available for viewing.
Xmas blows, if you disagree leave the presents at my door and leave me alone.
Quote from: Skull on November 01, 2011, 03:46:41 PM
Times sure have changed?
Odd... Peanuts would make fun of this in one of there cartoons (not sure if it's Thanksgiving, Christmas or Easter, or maybe thier Halloween special) and they are from the 1960's...
This might be so but I should have mentioned that I'm located in Germany. Christmas wasn't a consumer orgy here back in the days. It sure is now.
We don't celebrate Thanksgiving or Christmas. You wouldn't believe how much nicer the holiday season is when you don't have to pretend to be happy to see extended family members you can't stand.
To elaborate on my prior post (which is the footnote version of what I'm about to post), it has never been a secret on this board how much I loathe Christmas. Yes...loathe...as in simply detest the holiday about the same as dealing with a bout of dysentery. Its almost like poison ivy to me that makes me itch whenever I come near it. People tell me all the time "ha, ha, ha...you really don't mean that..." or tell me "there's no way anyone can HATE X-mas" amongst other things. Let me assure you that I in fact DO mean what I say and YES X-mas is very hatable. Before I go on, let me say I'm not looking for a flame war. Nor do I expect everyone to agree with me but these are my thoughts on why I hate the holiday.
Before I go on, let me certify that I grew up adoring Christmas. My family although being a small group, went over and beyond to give me many great memories of the holiday. I never lost anyone dear to me around that time of the year nor has anything tragic happened. Hell, I still enjoy intaking the movies and shows I watched back in the day which bring back the fun memories of being a kid.
However, my hatred of it stems from so many directions. I never really sat down to explore it but heres what I think is up. First, I hate being fake and I hate fake people. To me Xmas is beyond fake. As Akira pointed out above, there is a lot of "pretend" going on around that holiday. "Oh hey (insert random name), how have you been! Its good to see you! Here is a gift for you..." A good percent of the time, I don't care how said person has been, nor is it good to see them and the fact I had to blow money and waste time on a gift I didn't want to buy for them puts the icing on the cake.
Which brings me to this...the whole gift giving thing is just dumb to me. Running around like a chicken with your head cut off on black friday...also dumb. I remember my wife and I would always put a limit on each other gift wise. I often wondered if we were spending the same money on each other, why not just wash the money and simply buy what we wanted for ourselves.
As you all know, Halloween is simply the best holiday in the world to me. Its simply sad we get Xmas nonsense jackhammered down our throat now a day friggin' after!!! The music is blaring on local radio shows. I mean who in their right mind could listen to white Christmas by 100 artists over 1,000 times between now and Dec. 25? Then theres the retail end. I did 8 long years in retail which totally drove me insane when it came to this time of year. Still I can't blame that alone for my spite of the holiday. Rather, its something I've always felt inside after getting out childhood.
Also, let me say this, Christmas decorations are tacky. The lights, the decorations on the tree, the tree itself, the nutcrackers, the singing santas...its all a tacky festival. Halloween decorations at least have some sort of character and have the balls to press the limits of bad taste. Xmas decor simply says "HI EVERYONE, LETS BE FRIENDS..YEAAAAAA!" Lame s**t man, lame s**t. The food at Xmas...subpar. It pretty much plagiarizes Thanksgiving. And the weather...cold, miserable and often involving snow in my area.
Lastly its pretty much apparent (though I don't go into it much), I'm not religious. I won't go into it much further than that out of respect for the board's religious folk.
If you dig the holiday go on with your jolly self and enjoy it. Put up your lights and drink your egg nogg while tapping your penny loafers to jingle bell rock while wearing that ugly sweater with the Xmas tree knitted on it. I however feel no need or attachment for this particular holiday. And yes I have kids and absolutely I do not spoil it for them. All Xmas to me is a thorn in my side. And no, I will not have a Scrooge or Grinch moment so don't ever ask me to reconsider.
Wooo...that was cleansing.
Quote from: DS on November 01, 2011, 09:14:44 PM
To elaborate on my prior post (which is the footnote version of what I'm about to post), it has never been a secret on this board how much I loathe Christmas. Yes...loathe...as in simply detest the holiday about the same as dealing with a bout of dysentery. Its almost like poison ivy to me that makes me itch whenever I come near it. People tell me all the time "ha, ha, ha...you really don't mean that..." or tell me "there's no way anyone can HATE X-mas" amongst other things. Let me assure you that I in fact DO mean what I say and YES X-mas is very hatable. Before I go on, let me say I'm not looking for a flame war. Nor do I expect everyone to agree with me but these are my thoughts on why I hate the holiday.
Before I go on, let me certify that I grew up adoring Christmas. My family although being a small group, went over and beyond to give me many great memories of the holiday. I never lost anyone dear to me around that time of the year nor has anything tragic happened. Hell, I still enjoy intaking the movies and shows I watched back in the day which bring back the fun memories of being a kid.
However, my hatred of it stems from so many directions. I never really sat down to explore it but heres what I think is up. First, I hate being fake and I hate fake people. To me Xmas is beyond fake. As Akira pointed out above, there is a lot of "pretend" going on around that holiday. "Oh hey (insert random name), how have you been! Its good to see you! Here is a gift for you..." A good percent of the time, I don't care how said person has been, nor is it good to see them and the fact I had to blow money and waste time on a gift I didn't want to buy for them puts the icing on the cake.
Which brings me to this...the whole gift giving thing is just dumb to me. Running around like a chicken with your head cut off on black friday...also dumb. I remember my wife and I would always put a limit on each other gift wise. I often wondered if we were spending the same money on each other, why not just wash the money and simply buy what we wanted for ourselves.
As you all know, Halloween is simply the best holiday in the world to me. Its simply sad we get Xmas nonsense jackhammered down our throat now a day friggin' after!!! The music is blaring on local radio shows. I mean who in their right mind could listen to white Christmas by 100 artists over 1,000 times between now and Dec. 25? Then theres the retail end. I did 8 long years in retail which totally drove me insane when it came to this time of year. Still I can't blame that alone for my spite of the holiday. Rather, its something I've always felt inside after getting out childhood.
Also, let me say this, Christmas decorations are tacky. The lights, the decorations on the tree, the tree itself, the nutcrackers, the singing santas...its all a tacky festival. Halloween decorations at least have some sort of character and have the balls to press the limits of bad taste. Xmas decor simply says "HI EVERYONE, LETS BE FRIENDS..YEAAAAAA!" Lame s**t man, lame s**t. The food at Xmas...subpar. It pretty much plagiarizes Thanksgiving. And the weather...cold, miserable and often involving snow in my area.
Lastly its pretty much apparent (though I don't go into it much), I'm not religious. I won't go into it much further than that out of respect for the board's religious folk.
If you dig the holiday go on with your jolly self and enjoy it. Put up your lights and drink your egg nogg while tapping your penny loafers to jingle bell rock while wearing that ugly sweater with the Xmas tree knitted on it. I however feel no need or attachment for this particular holiday. And yes I have kids and absolutely I do not spoil it for them. All Xmas to me is a thorn in my side. And no, I will not have a Scrooge or Grinch moment so don't ever ask me to reconsider.
Wooo...that was cleansing.
Oh, come on. You don't really mean that. Nobody hates Christmas. :teddyr:
I can fully appreciate your points DS, and to a lesser degree, I agree with them. I loathe the over-commercialization of essentially a religious holiday (yes, I know it was co-opted by Christianity), and I dislike that stores have begun putting out Christmas displays in September. I happen to be one of the lucky ones who actually enjoy seeing my relatives, so the visiting aspect is something I look forward to since we have all spread out and cannot get together regularly. I don't like buying presents, so I made myself into the weird uncle who buys very odd things for the kids, and they usually seem to appreciate the silliness. As for my own family, we have always emphasized the religious aspect, so the presents, while there, aren't the focus, so we don't overdo there. Since we keep it simple, it's a nice holiday for us and a nice break from routine.
MusicChoice channel 433 on Comcast is playing 24 hours a day Christmas Music. Started November 1st at midnight, and ends on January 6.
I like it to a degree but two full months is a bit overkill.
I'm actually listening to Christmas music on my iPod in my office at this very moment . . .
I've been saving this just for Darksider's first annual anti-Christmas rant :teddyr:
(http://i702.photobucket.com/albums/ww28/jackc8/santa.jpg)
Hey, there is only 52 days until christmas. Can YOU get ready under 52 days? Didn't think so.
Jokes aside. Seriously? Seriously?
I'm glad I haven't seen anything christmas related over here....yet.
Goddamn, there are two months until christmas. What's the point in starting with all the holidays crap now?
Will you buy more gifts? I don't think so.
Quote from: DS on November 01, 2011, 09:14:44 PM
Also, let me say this, Christmas decorations are tacky. The lights, the decorations on the tree, the tree itself, the nutcrackers, the singing santas...its all a tacky festival.
I won't disagree with anything else you said... but come on, how can a bad movie lover
not appreciate tacky decorations? (Seriously, the garish lights are my favorite part of the holiday!)
Quote from: Jack on November 02, 2011, 08:37:37 AM
I've been saving this just for Darksider's first annual anti-Christmas rant :teddyr:
(http://i702.photobucket.com/albums/ww28/jackc8/santa.jpg)
Jack I think you just made the holidays brighter. :bouncegiggle:
Quote from: Rev. Powell on November 02, 2011, 10:11:50 AM
Quote from: DS on November 01, 2011, 09:14:44 PM
Also, let me say this, Christmas decorations are tacky. The lights, the decorations on the tree, the tree itself, the nutcrackers, the singing santas...its all a tacky festival.
I won't disagree with anything else you said... but come on, how can a bad movie lover not appreciate tacky decorations? (Seriously, the garish lights are my favorite part of the holiday!)
Touche Rev...touche. :bouncegiggle: Actually I was more or less referring to the modern stuff people actually think is "cute" or "classy". A lot of the modern decorations are tacky such as the giant blow up Santas. HOWEVER, they are still considered "cute" by the general population. I want people to grunt in disgust when they drive by my house. I'm actually all for a tacky fest of what people look at as unclassy nowadays to make a parody of the holiday. The giant lightup plastic Santa, the huge flamable Xmas lights, the tinsil and garland. Maybe a huge sign that says "FELIZ NAVIDAD" (Roseanne reference anyone?). I so want some of those giant candles that say "Noel" on them.
Quote from: DS on November 01, 2011, 09:14:44 PM
Before I go on, let me say I'm not looking for a flame war. Nor do I expect everyone to agree with me but these are my thoughts on why I hate the holiday.
There is a few things I'll debate (ask Flick) but Christmas isnt one of them. [your last reply wasnt even on my "OMG I need to Flame list ~ lol" ] So you didnt have to justified yourself.
My thoughts on Christmas ~ its a signifies that the year is over and the new one is about to start and if you are greatful for those that did good it would be the best time to say "thank-you!" (not nessary for you to give gifts or spend time with annoying people)
My theory is: If christmas was in the middle of the year then it would be as equal as Easter and the big holiday would be New Years Eve.
For the last few years here I've seen Christmas and Halloween stuff side by side in stores although after Halloween, the Christmas stuff completely takes over around here and the endless Christmas music almost drives one off the deep end by the time Christmas finally does roll around. We have Thanksgiving in October so there's only Remembrance Day (basically our war veterans days) as an holiday in November. Personally I think it a little disrespectful how Christmas stuff is out before Remembrance Day but it's not like they can truly commercialize that holiday. And technically I don't really consider Halloween an holiday since there's really no day off for it but still I'd prefer it if shops didn't play Christmas music on that day as I've heard in the past.
I get annoyed at the blow-up stuff and some of the other ready-made crap myself. I liked it when you could just buy lights for outside your house, and having a fancy display required you to be creative in how you used them, and put in a little effort. Then we got icicle lights and net lights and flashing lights and chasing lights and lights on wire frames of various shapes and inflatable decorations, so now you can have a huge, elaborate display that still manages to look totally half-assed because no thought or effort went in.
I organized a lighting contest for a couple of years, and always tried to include a landscaper, an artist and a decorator on the judging panel. I wanted to ensure it would not be about size or money spent, but about composition, use of colour, integration with the buildings and landscape, and creativity (those were among the things the judges were asked to rate on a scale of 1 to 10). It was quite satisfying to drive the judges around and hear them praising simple but effective displays, while being totally unimpressed by huge, gaudy collections of random stuff.
The one inflatable decoration I enjoyed was a snowman that was set up in a rural front yard without a lot of shelter. It was a windy day, and this thing was bent right over backward with its arms flailing wildly over its head. I could just imagine it screaming "HEEEEEEEEEELP!" :teddyr: Still makes me laugh just thinking about it.
I have a love-hate relationship with Christmas. I actually enjoy the pagan traditions from which the holiday sprung, and and I don't much like the way Christianity has hi-jacked it. And no, I'm not a neo-pagan, I just like some of the yuletide traditions.
I'm with Rev. on the lights. I LOVE Christmas lights.
Some aspects of Christmas are just a huge pain in the ass. Other aspects I love, most of which have to do with my immediate family. The main thing I was expressing annoyance with was that Christmas, for all that I love and hate about it, carries with it a certain amount of stress. The progressively earlier consumer orgy every year just makes me start worrying about the planning and stresses of the holiday sooner than I would like to. I happen to enjoy Thanksgiving. It is a simple and meaningful holiday for me, and I would just like to enjoy it without already being stressed about Christmas.
Just a simple gripe, folks. Nothing more.
The best part of Christmas for me is going to my parents' house in the morning to open gifts with my family and then hanging around there all day with the smell of my mother's turkey dinner floating through the house.
Quote from: The Burgomaster on November 02, 2011, 02:28:40 PM
The best part of Christmas for me is going to my parents' house in the morning to open gifts with my family and then hanging around there all day with the smell of my mother's turkey dinner floating through the house.
Pretty much the same here, except that my sisters and me do the cooking.
Quote from: Flick James on November 02, 2011, 02:19:41 PM
I have a love-hate relationship with Christmas. I actually enjoy the pagan traditions...
Funny how you said that... I was in a discussion with my mother-in-law at Halloween night and she was telling us somebody she knew was stuck in a deep Christian family that was against Halloween and this person on his 21st birth (moved out and said I'm trick-or-treating); I thought it was silly but she was going on about their deep Christian faith and I said, it's funny how they are happy to celebrate Christmas with is overloaded with Pagan Traditions... My mother-in-law seemed shock how I suggested Christmas is overloaded with Pagan Traditions... on the other hand she doesnt know that Snakes and Ladders is the orginal name for Chutes and Ladders... :)
Anyway, I hope the 21 year old had fun getting candy... :)
Quote from: Skull on November 02, 2011, 02:46:46 PM
Quote from: Flick James on November 02, 2011, 02:19:41 PM
I have a love-hate relationship with Christmas. I actually enjoy the pagan traditions...
Funny how you said that... I was in a discussion with my mother-in-law at Halloween night and she was telling us somebody she knew was stuck in a deep Christian family that was against Halloween and this person on his 21st birth (moved out and said I'm trick-or-treating); I thought it was silly but she was going on about their deep Christian faith and I said, it's funny how they are happy to celebrate Christmas with is overloaded with Pagan Traditions... My mother-in-law seemed shock how I suggested Christmas is overloaded with Pagan Traditions... on the other hand she doesnt know that Snakes and Ladders is the orginal name for Chutes and Ladders... :)
Anyway, I hope the 21 year old had fun getting candy... :)
In my neighborhood growing up there was this one house on the block that was deeply Christian, and shunned Halloween vehemently. This does not bother me. That's fine. They also would make it a point to answer the door to every trick-or-treater and explain to them how they don't acknowledge Halloween and that it is deeply sinful, etc. Again, I've got problem with that. I'm walking up to their front door, it's their domain, they can do that if they want. It was annoying that they were so sneaky about it, having their porch light on and welcoming the door-to-door visitors with an obvious agenda, but eventually we just learned to avoid the house altogether.
Anyway, yes, I've always found it interesting that Christians tend to shun Halloween and embrace Christmas, although both holidays have their roots in largely pagan traditions. It amuses me when I see the phrase "Jesus...the reason for the season." No it's not. The date of Christmas, from what I understand, has little to no coincidence with the date Jesus' birth, and most of the tradtions are derived from pagan yuletide tradtions with Jesus' birth simply injected into it. Again, that's fine. Observe whatever about the holiday you wish to. You just might want to avoid laboring under the delusion that it's somehow a holiday rooted in Christianity that has been sullied by all these other elements. It's more like the other way around.
I agree 110% with you Flick... :)
The funny part about Christmas and Halloween is they are both Americanized Holidays, sure Thanksgiving and the Fourth of July are true American Holidays but Christmas and Halloween were transformed from their orginal form into what we see today. It's not a bad thing, I tend to see this like evolution (in this case the evolvement of ideas into standalone tradition that's not ment to offend but to have fun)
And Christmas and Halloween is fun.
I also have the deepest respect towards God but I feel indiffrent for the church. I believe God's message is very simple to love and respect others as equals and they will respect you as an equal.
I would like Christmas more if it was just a time to relax and have fun. I like Christmas Day, Boxing Day and the week after Christmas because they are just that. You are not expected to be doing anything constructive. Nobody is going to bother you. Just spend time with the family, read, watch movies, play games, eat, drink and unwind. I love that. The last couple of years, we rented a chalet near a ski resort, along with my wife's mother, brother and sisters, and spend a few days over Christmas there. It was great. We not only had fun together, but there was always some stretch of time when everybody would be skating, skiing and whatnot, and I could have a couple of hours of peace and quiet to sit in the jacuzzi with a good book and a few beers on ice.
It's the time leading up to Christmas, full of obligations and deadlines and costs and stress, I can do without. Getting the decorations up, getting the tree up, sending the cards, visiting this person and that person, going shopping at the worst possible time of year, working your butt off so you can take a few days off and not return to a huge mess in January. And even when some of these things can be enjoyable, there is something about Christmas that makes them feel like work. They are expected of you. You have limited time in which to do them. If you're too busy, you'll just have to make the time to do these things. And if you don't, some relative will be disappointed, your wife will be mad, Christmas will be a little less special for the kids, you'll feel guilty. And there is always the fact that Christmas will never be as awesome as you remember it from your childhood.
We need to stop taking Christmas so seriously, and try to keep it fun.
It's ridiculous....I've been watching the stores get out their Christmas stuff since early October. I think the retail businesses are just after the holiday bucks and don't think Thanksgiving is worth their time. Sadly,we need to be thankful.
I enjoy every bit of it. Buying a tree, putting it up, vacuuming up the needles, watering it every morning and letting the cat drink out of the water jug. Mixing up some eggnog and getting the boxes of ornaments out of the basement. My wife dragging me out to the malls that are shoulder-to-shoulder people, standing in line for 20 minutes at the checkout as she grins appreciatively at me. The store displays, little kids lined up to tell Santa what they want, all the kiosks with the salesmen obviously working on commission running after me telling me I should buy a chartreuse silk scarf. Getting out the ol' Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer and Frosty The Snowman DVD's, the Christmas music everywhere you go, our kids telling me all the stuff they want, me hemming and hawing, my wife buying it for them anyway.
Getting the credit card bill afterwards that nearly knocks me right out of my chair...
Ah heck, it's just good to see everybody so happy.
Quote from: akiratubo on November 01, 2011, 04:27:52 PM
We don't celebrate Thanksgiving or Christmas. You wouldn't believe how much nicer the holiday season is when you don't have to pretend to be happy to see extended family members you can't stand.
That would be nice. I am stuck doing that :(
I've got some hot chocolate in my cup with some old school mid '50s holiday music going.
I always get kinda depressed around now, but the tunes take me back to a time when I was a kid and brings me back up.
Yesterday, I walking over to the library drop some of my books off and I saw that city workers were already putting up decorations up. Gees, talk about jumping the gun. Can't we wait until Thanksgiving is over with?
If we are going to be celebrating Christmas early, can't we do it in July for fun, like all those cartoon channels use to do? It was always so fun watching the holiday specials in my shorts and cranking up the air condition.
Bad news.
Christmas just started here, over the dark side of Europe.
Why?
Walked into a huge grocery store the other day and they were in full-on Christmas mode. Christmas trees and decorations up everywhere and Jingle Bell Rock playing on the speakers overhead.
It was funny because as I was walking in, a mother and her 4-5 year old boy were in front of me. The little boy said, "Mommy it isn't Christmastime yet. We just had Halloween!"
:bouncegiggle:
Quote from: Ash on November 07, 2011, 06:09:44 PM
Walked into a huge grocery store the other day and they were in full-on Christmas mode. Christmas trees and decorations up everywhere and Jingle Bell Rock playing on the speakers overhead.
It was funny because as I was walking in, a mother and her 4-5 year old boy were in front of me. The little boy said, "Mommy it isn't Christmastime yet. We just had Halloween!"
:bouncegiggle:
From the mouths of babes.
:thumbup:
(https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/385301_2360929335708_1024538941_32365249_357405251_n.jpg)
Under ideal circumstances, my holiday season would consist of getting my favourite people together for an all-nighter on the solstice (much good food, booze, coffee and music to keep us up until sunrise) following a bit of meditation. Evergreen tree and mistletoe optional. But since most of my favourite people are Christian, I still participate in exchanging presents and their New Years celebrations. I've found it to be a lot less stressful now that it's a choice and not an obligation.