Even The Airports ...
... are infected with nonstop Christmas music. Good grief! This Holiday Madness is (as always) just outta control. From Kam's classic track:
Every year I hear "Happy Holiday"
What's my religion? "I do what the dollar say"
That's why I celebrate Christmas
Cuz this overweight redneck devil is big business
This morning I'm sitting in San Jose airport awaiting my flight to first Dallas and then Washington, D.C. Thankfully I don't have many people to buy presents for, and have therefore not had to spend any time in malls. But somehow, the Evil Ghost of all Christmases has found me in the airport, and I'm being subjected to a barrage of cheerful Christmas tunes that I can't escape.
Christmas was always a big event in my house growing up, and as a kid, I of course loved it more than any other holiday. Very soon after Thanksgiving each year, my mom puts up the tree and starts decorating the house and playing the music. She still has almost the same enthusiasm for the holiday that she did when my sisters and I were kids, even though we're all adults now. I can understand her enjoyment of it simply based on the memories she has of working so hard to create wonderful Christmas mornings for us for 20 years; her continued attachment to the day is entirely understandable.
However, I myself have zero excitement for Christmas, and in fact, I even have quite a bit of scorn for it. Being atheist, I attach no relevance to the season in terms of it's religious significance. Beyond that aspect, I additionally am completely and totally against the entire over-commercialization of the holiday, the way all potential tangible meaning the season could have has been sucked out by the omnipresent commercials, songs, decorations, and encouragements to BUY, BUY, BUY that bombard you from every angle, all day long. I groan every year when I first walk into a store and see Christmas decorations: "already? Are you kidding me?"
I think most people would agree that the commercialization of Christmas has gotten way out of control. The difference for me is that I don't just say it - I act on it. I only buy presents for my immediate family, never play Christmas music, don't send cards, don't have a tree, don't decorate. If I ever have kids, I'm determined to just skip the holiday altogether, and when they're old enough to realize that, carefully explain to them why we don't participate. I'm not a grinch - maybe I'd buy them some presents anyway - but there would be no Christmas symbolism attached to it whatsoever.
Every year I hear "Happy Holiday"
What's my religion? "I do what the dollar say"
That's why I celebrate Christmas
Cuz this overweight redneck devil is big business
This morning I'm sitting in San Jose airport awaiting my flight to first Dallas and then Washington, D.C. Thankfully I don't have many people to buy presents for, and have therefore not had to spend any time in malls. But somehow, the Evil Ghost of all Christmases has found me in the airport, and I'm being subjected to a barrage of cheerful Christmas tunes that I can't escape.
Christmas was always a big event in my house growing up, and as a kid, I of course loved it more than any other holiday. Very soon after Thanksgiving each year, my mom puts up the tree and starts decorating the house and playing the music. She still has almost the same enthusiasm for the holiday that she did when my sisters and I were kids, even though we're all adults now. I can understand her enjoyment of it simply based on the memories she has of working so hard to create wonderful Christmas mornings for us for 20 years; her continued attachment to the day is entirely understandable.
However, I myself have zero excitement for Christmas, and in fact, I even have quite a bit of scorn for it. Being atheist, I attach no relevance to the season in terms of it's religious significance. Beyond that aspect, I additionally am completely and totally against the entire over-commercialization of the holiday, the way all potential tangible meaning the season could have has been sucked out by the omnipresent commercials, songs, decorations, and encouragements to BUY, BUY, BUY that bombard you from every angle, all day long. I groan every year when I first walk into a store and see Christmas decorations: "already? Are you kidding me?"
I think most people would agree that the commercialization of Christmas has gotten way out of control. The difference for me is that I don't just say it - I act on it. I only buy presents for my immediate family, never play Christmas music, don't send cards, don't have a tree, don't decorate. If I ever have kids, I'm determined to just skip the holiday altogether, and when they're old enough to realize that, carefully explain to them why we don't participate. I'm not a grinch - maybe I'd buy them some presents anyway - but there would be no Christmas symbolism attached to it whatsoever.
posted by GregP at 8:56 AM
2 Comments:
Listen to Steve Morse's rendition of Joy to the World. Also try Al Di Meola's Carol of the Bells.
Here is a small story that symbolizes all that is wrong with Christmas. I find buying presents for people an unbearable chore. This is not because of the over commercialization of the season, but mostly because I never find anything good enough to give to those I care about. I feel that no present is better than a bad one. Anyway, I have 10 nieces and nephews below the age of 8. I cannot, in good conscience, deny them presents. It is Christmas after all! So, I take one evening after work to deliver my presents to some of the kids. When I arrive at the house they are busily stuffing little trinkets into gift bags. I asked them, “what is all this for?” They had just gone to Wal-Mart and bought little gifts for all their teachers. ALL OF THEM! My first instinct, CRAZY! WHY! I am not dismissing the hard work and importance of teachers, I am not. I just wonder why they could possibly want to receive $5 Wal-Mart crap for Christmas. It made no sense. So I asked their parent why? It seems that ALL the students in the class give presents to their teachers. My nieces and nephews had not, so many of their friends were asking them, “Don’t you have Christmas in India?” That is the killer! Innocent questions from other children shamed my family into buying gifts. As an added little gotcha, we are a Catholic Family. Of course we have Christmas; we just don’t waste time and money give teachers crap that they neither want or need. Why does everybody need to get a gift? Why are most gifts CRAP anyway (except my Omega Supreme, THAT WAS AWESOME!)? It should be easier, it should be simpler, but it never is. DOH!
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