Christmas in July?

Have you ever wished that the holidays were what they used to be, when the holidays had true meanings of love and peace? Things have changed over the years and the commercialism that now exists with holidays, especially Christmas, has taken away a lot of its meanings.

Back in the old days, Christmas decorations were not put up until after Thanksgiving and there was no such thing as “Christmas in July.” People are now looking to simplify the holidays, with the theory of more joy, less stuff.

A poll was done from the Center for a New American Dream showed that more than fifty percent of Americans feel that spending less money on gifts would help them to focus on the true meanings of Christmas. Seventy-seven percent of Americans would like to have a simpler holiday this year.

The holiday season seems to start earlier every year. Lights and decorations hit the stores right after Halloween. With everything coming out so early, by the time Christmas comes around people are sick of it. Not only are people sick of it, but they are missing the true meaning of Christmas.

It seems that before someone can finish their Halloween candy they are already being hassled about Christmas shopping. Christmas sales seem to start earlier every year, along with all the store displays. A few years ago there was even a newspaper headline titled “The Christmas Season is Here, Ready or not.” The holiday season has been extended from after Thanksgiving to whenever major corporations decide to start advertising. Sadly, the new Christmas is measured by how many things you receive and not by how much fun it is to spend time with friends and family. The days of going to see Santa at the mall and sledding on Christmas Eve are all over. This holiday is supposed to be about family, friends, and religion. The focus of Christmas now is no more than an excitement of who can get their kid the best present. No person’s Christmas should be ruined if they do not receive some specific toy, which is not what the corporations want you to believe. The goal of all these advertisements is not to just influence you to buy something, but also to make you feel like a bad person if you do not give that someone everything they want.

Commercials about saving money on gifts, what to bake for visitors, and where to go for the best sales are confused with the spirit of Christmas. All these ads for gifts for him, gifts for her, and gifts for the kids are filling our minds and making us miss the whole point of this holiday.

According to Lucy, in Charlie Brown’s Christmas, Christmas is run by a “big eastern syndicate.” Maybe she is right. No one really knows why this holiday has turned into such a materialistic holiday. When people are shopping for Christmas trees, they are even questioning whether to buy one of those flashy metal creations or a real Christmas tree.

The twelve days of Christmas seem to have changed into forty days. Christmas carols and television specials disappear just when they should be beginning. Even the family channel has gone to the extent of having Frosty and Rudolph specials (not the originals, which makes it worse) in July. They have a weekend or more of Christmas in July. Is this supposed to put people in the Christmas mood? It certainly doesn’t, it just makes people even more annoyed with the holiday that used to be looked at as a time for peace.

The season of Christmas needs to remain between the time after Thanksgiving and end around New Year’s. Some tips on how you can escape from the commercialism of Christmas are as follows:

• Believing in the simplicity and beauty of Christmas, promise to remember those people who really need your gifts.

• Express your love for family and friends in more direct ways than presents.

• Examine your holiday activities in the light of the true spirit of Christmas and try initiating one act of peacemaking within your circle of friends and family.

Remember how the Who’s in Whoville looked at Christmas. When the Grinch stole all of their decorations, Christmas still came. The Grinch thought “maybe Christmas doesn’t come from a store. Maybe Christmas…perhaps…means a little bit more!”

Have a Merry Christmas, a Happy New Year and a relaxing Winterim!!