Another Side Of Christmas

Christmas is just a few days away. My grandchildren are excited for Santa to come—trying hard not to be naughty. Sharing their joyful enthusiasm is a gift. They are still young enough not to be totally caught up in the commercial aspect of the season—the other side of Christmas.

It’s difficult to disentangle the meaning of the holidays from the marketing of the holidays. Merchandizers use the theory that if their displays and music are enticing enough, people will show up, shop and spend. The holidays morph together in a consumer blur. One of my neighbors has lighted wreaths on her front porch and pumpkins at her back gate.

I, for one, will be very happy when I can turn on my radio and hear something besides Jingle Bells or The Little Drummer Boy. (The other day I overheard someone wish the drummer boy would give himself a concussion with his sticks.)

Since Halloween, it’s been an ever-increasing stream of carols and holiday jingles and daily ads for “one day” mega-sales. Do you suppose if we wait long enough those “must have” items will eventually be free? Probably not.

Christmas hasn’t even happened yet, and I’m feeling “merried” out. Not quite “Bah, humbug”, but close. Every year the push to shop and decorate starts earlier and earlier. Enough, I say. Move out those wreaths and bring on the Valentines – heck, that holiday is only two months away.

And when did decorating our houses with lights become so extravagant? Lights are fun. I like . I like simple, elegant lights. But prancing reindeer, dancing snowmen and blinking candy canes? Lights attached to every linear surface and draped on every bush all flashing rhythmically to canned holiday tunes is over the top for me. Have you seen the pictures of the house-next-door with the Ditto message? Check it out.

When I was a kid my grandmother had bubble lights on her tree. They were so cool. I would happily watch the dancing bubbles for hours. Now we have LED lights—vibrant colors but a little harsh for my eye. I like the old-fashioned lights.

Don’t get me wrong. I like Christmas. I just don’t like the extremes of the holiday. I don’t like being hit over the head with commercialism. I want time with the people I care about, not a mountain of gifts under the tree.

Think about it. Scrooge and The Grinch weren’t all bad—they were just complaining about the excesses of the holidays too. So let’s have more “layaway angels” in our world and fewer Mr. Potters.

For what it’s worth, if you want to know what Christmas is really all about watch A Charlie Brown Christmas. That’s what we’re doing this afternoon.

Happy Holidays to all!