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12/04/04, 10:12 AM
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Join Date: May 2003
Location: Washington State
Posts: 403
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Is it just my imagination? (Commercialism gone wild)
Is it just my imagination, or has the wild commercialism of Christmas gone especially crazy this year? I walked through a store this last week and nearly fell over at the sheer amount of STUFF on the shelves. Am I the only one that gets depressed about this?
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12/04/04, 10:17 AM
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****
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Join Date: May 2002
Location: Central New York
Posts: 8,645
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It's amazing, isn't it? Plus stores are open early and close late--for your shopping convenience. What gets me is that they start at Halloween!
That just isn't the reason for the season.
Stacy in NY
__________________
People say I can't multi-task. Well, I can tick you off and amuse myself at the same time.
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12/04/04, 10:30 AM
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Join Date: May 2002
Location: Back in the USSR
Posts: 9,961
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It's not your imagination. Christmas seems to starting earlier every year. It used to be it all started after Thansgiving. A month was long enough. Now I'm seeing stuff in the stores in Sept. I realize stores get stock early but it also means if yiou're looking for something at the end of a season, you probably won't find it. Try buying a winter coat in early spring when it's still cold. The stores already have the spring and summer stuff in stock.
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12/05/04, 12:23 PM
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Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 752
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It IS sad, isn't it? I wonder what jesus would say about it...He surely wouldn't like it....
there IS a limit, and the stores are WAY past it. Around me, i saw Christmas stuff in late sept., and Easter stuff might be up as early as next month(JAN) Would you believe this? :no:
Its awful! I avoid most of the stores that are like this.
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12/05/04, 05:52 PM
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Mansfield, VT for 200 yrs
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Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: VT
Posts: 3,736
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by KincoraFarm
That just isn't the reason for the season.
Stacy in NY
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Well, I don't know about "reason for season," in fact I just saw a rather compelling piece about taking "Christ OUT of Christmas" because the description of his birth seems to be more spring-like than wintery (and getting Christ back into Christmas doesn't have marketing appeal)... but be that as it may...
As a secular person I find myself overwhelmed, stressed, and vaguely nauseous this time of year. So much emphasis on STUFF. Giving it, getting it, buying it... if you're not moving enough of it you obviously don't love your parents, kids, family and friends, enough. Or you don't have any. What the heck kind of whirlpool is this?
A "present" is something to discover, a serindipitious thing which you see and think "he'd love that!" Not something you've been directed and coached to buy, or something you get for the sake of buying something, anything, to put under the tree.
My mother did stockings. Big honking stockings, stuffed to overflowing. Usually thematically, no less... the "music" stocking, the "baking" stocking, the "make-up" stocking (that one was a catastrophic failure... finally threw the unopenned cosmetics away 30 years later!). She started shopping in January and worked Christmas all year 'round.
Talk about insanity. And doesn't it look like the whole world is joining her?
This year I told "everybody" we weren't doing Christmas... please, don't send anything. Make a contribution to your favorite charity...
It was such a plan. And there are 7 boxes in my dining room waiting to be labeled for shipping. It seems like even when you want to get off the merry-go-round you can't.
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12/05/04, 07:21 PM
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Join Date: May 2002
Location: South Central Michigan
Posts: 1,983
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A few years back I returned from an extended mission trip to Haiti just before Thanksgiving. I have been overwhelmed by the "stuff" we have here ever since. We have, in my family, trimmed way back in our giving to each other and concentrated more on giving to those in need. When I look at all that "stuff" on the shelves, all I can see is the faces of some of the little children in Haiti when I would give them a small stuffed animal after giving them a shot. They had never even seen anything like it in some of the mountain villiages.
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12/06/04, 05:13 AM
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Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: SE TN/SW NC
Posts: 313
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We haven't "done christmas" since our DD grew up and moved away. Even when she was home, we really didn't get much into it. No tree, ornaments, ligts, presents, ect. We would do things as a family instead. Worked well for us then and works even better now.
__________________
"Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we. They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we."
George W. Bush 8/5/2004
source: White House Web Site
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12/06/04, 06:26 AM
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Join Date: Jun 2002
Posts: 23
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how about that gift card exchange thing. Stood in line just to buy the cards and then got agift card at the exchange. Just didn't make any sense. Put the brakes on that one. My hubby and I refused. Now we take a planned weekend trip and rent a chalet in the mtns. Who ever wants to go makes the trip and the memories are much more valuable than that old gift card.
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12/06/04, 06:48 AM
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Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: New Mexico
Posts: 436
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My "thorn" is the "Happy Holiday" thing. What ever happened to Merry Christmas? BUT, do they realize that "holiday" is the joining of "Holy" and "Day",and really a contraction of the two words? So, guess what I say? "Happy Holy Days" to people!
Gets attention, which is my intent!!
(aside: Halloween, specifically Hallows E'en" is also a contraction for "Hallow's Evening" or The Eve of All Saint's (Hallows) Day (Nov 1) Do they REALLY know what they are saying?? They will when I get my message across!  )
Last edited by New Mexican; 12/06/04 at 06:55 AM.
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12/06/04, 10:13 AM
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member
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Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: SE Ohio
Posts: 23,495
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Everyone wants people to buy more and more. The entire US economy depends on people spending. If people don't spend, then it all collapses. I read that about 60% of our economy is based on consumer spending and most businesses make 25% of their income in December alone...
Now be a good American and go buy a bunch of new stuff!!!!
Just kidding, it is crazy isn't it. I had a dream last night, don't ask me why I dreamed this. I was in Wal-mart and I had a huge buggy piled full of items for Christmas. The cashier totalled it and it was over $1000. I was shocked and horrified as I could not think of how to pay for it. I finally wrote a check!!! Even in my dream I knew I did not have enough money for the check. Then I woke up. I just remembered that dream when I read this, very, very strange!!!!!
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12/06/04, 10:35 AM
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Join Date: May 2004
Location: Montana! :o)
Posts: 162
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I see it too. We don't really "do" Christmas gifts but family insists on giving DD gifts so we have altered to celebrate the turning of the year with these well-meaning gifts instead. This will also be the time that DD gets the traditional (lol) new socks, toothbrush, and toothpaste!
I do say Happy Holidays but I may switch to "Holy Days"!  Saying Merry Christmas, sadly, anymore, just brings to mind greediness.
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:yeeha:
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12/06/04, 02:49 PM
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Join Date: May 2002
Posts: 951
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They don't realize when they're saying "Happy Holidays" they're still imparting a Christian message because the word holiday comes from Holy-Days....
Home made gifts are something we are doing a lot of (like I'm knitting the newest grandbaby a blanket and matching cap)....
Christmas should be about LOVE....no matter when it is celebrated....
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12/07/04, 11:14 AM
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Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 21
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I'm sick of buying stuff. I hate buying crap that will just go into the trash in less than a year, trying the break my wife from that.
She has this gift giving thing with her relatives. They buy us junk and she buys them junk.
Everything is made in china these days.
I don't mind buying things that will be around for years and will be usefull ie tools, dishes etc but stuff stinks....
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12/07/04, 11:34 AM
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Join Date: May 2002
Posts: 7,692
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by BamaSuzy
They don't realize when they're saying "Happy Holidays" they're still imparting a Christian message because the word holiday comes from Holy-Days....
Home made gifts are something we are doing a lot of (like I'm knitting the newest grandbaby a blanket and matching cap)....
Christmas should be about LOVE....no matter when it is celebrated....
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Believe it or not, but other cultures and other religions have "holy day" holidays including winter solstice (northern hemisphere), the true reason for the season. Just because we belong to a culture that worships the Almighty Dollar doesnt make us superior. The lengthening of the days and promise of spring and another growing season is enough for me. Dont need to dance around a bond fire naked, nor do I need to buy lots of overpriced crap. Course mine is a solitary hermit viewpoint.
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"What would you do with a brain if you had one?" -Dorothy
"Well, then ignore what I have to say and go with what works for you." -Eliot Coleman
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12/14/04, 01:20 PM
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I am good without god.
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Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Terra Planet, Sol System, Milky Way Galaxy
Posts: 858
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I have reached the point that I hate just about every holiday because they have been perverted out of their rightful meaning. Christmas is about commercialism, not showing kindness to those less fortunate. Thanksgiving is about being gluttons and couch potatos watching football. Easter is about candy, more candy and even more candy...perhaps a few gifts thrown in too. Fouth of July is about being on vacation and having a barbecue and fireworks. Memorial Day here around the Lake of the Ozarks, and Labor Day too, is about playing hard on the water and trying not to crash your boat or jet ski into someone else.
I am pretty ambivalent about holidays and any celebrations because there is no meaning in them. I hate all the senseless spending. While I do buy things, they are practical things for the homestead that I need. They are purchased as they can be found and afforded.
Call me Mr. Grumpus Scrooge if you like, but BAH BAH HUMBUG on all of this holiday nonsense! :no: :yeeha:  
__________________
I would challenge anyone here to think of a question upon which we once had a scientific answer, however inadequate, but for which now the best answer is a religious one. – Sam Harris
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12/14/04, 01:57 PM
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Mansfield, VT for 200 yrs
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Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: VT
Posts: 3,736
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I have an employee who missed work yesterday and came in today in a state of useless because her perfect holiday plans imploded when the children showed up and ended up fighting. One family stormed out of the house and flew home, the other had hysterics.
I think entirely too much pressure is placed on people to create the unattainable "perfection." Had this woman just organized a family reunion, it would have been ok, but the whole household was under a pressure cooker of "perfection" and it exploded.
The woman has literally made herself sick with the stress of it all.
BAAA HUMBUG! I've been trying to tell her all day that it wasn't her fault, it is the season... but I don't think it is working.
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12/14/04, 02:48 PM
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Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: ar
Posts: 14
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i thought we were the only ones. we have asked the school to not push the holiday thing on our kids because we want to teach them the real meaning of chritsmas and all the other holidays too. butjust yesterday dd brought home sant claus this and that and all three just cant wait for santa to come wait a minute i just had an idea isntchristmas (supposed to be) a religious holiday? and are the public schools suppose to teach religion? hmmmm..
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12/14/04, 03:54 PM
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AFKA ZealYouthGuy
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Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: NW Pa./NY Border.
Posts: 11,453
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by chris774
i thought we were the only ones. we have asked the school to not push the holiday thing on our kids because we want to teach them the real meaning of chritsmas and all the other holidays too. butjust yesterday dd brought home sant claus this and that and all three just cant wait for santa to come wait a minute i just had an idea isntchristmas (supposed to be) a religious holiday? and are the public schools suppose to teach religion? hmmmm..
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Aren't parents supposed to be smart enough to teach their kids what they think they should know? Trust me, there are many religions and philosophies that kids will come home with that need corrected. Humanism, atheism, etc. all are fully endorsed and taught, and all are religions.
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12/14/04, 04:56 PM
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Border Ruffian
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Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: MN
Posts: 444
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Businesses care about generating profits; that's their objective and livelihood.
Businesses love these holidays, because it's a built-in way to generate sales (Think New Year's Eve (lots of restaurants and inns raise prices), Valentine's Day, Mother's Day, Father's Day, Halloween, Christmas). Since I don't expect anything else from businesses, I am not upset by it.
I think it's rather pointless to rail against commercialism and consumerism. If you don't like it, you don't have to play the game. You can teach your children that the gesture of a gift is what's important; that a home-made gift can be more appreciated than anything store-bought, and that the season is a time when families come together.
I'm in my early 40s, and we typically got two presents each Christmas, one from Mom and Dad, one from Gramma and Grampa. I remember how special those gifts were, not what I wanted but did not get.
I think Zeal has it right: better to focus on what you can influence and change rather than p*ss and moan about what you cannot change. That's just my $0.02, but I'm not going to let Madison Avenue-created expectations ruin the special time of year when our whole family comes together. How about a thread sharing what's right with Christmas (generosity, churches and communities working together, seeing family and friends)?
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12/14/04, 06:20 PM
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Off-The-Grid Homesteader
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Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Upstate NY
Posts: 2,222
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When my son was growing up and I was married to his father (who was Jewish), we really went all out for Christmas. Spent lots of money! Lived that fancy lifestyle. But my life changed, and my present husband and I, have never bought Christmas presents for each other or even for our children (who are all grown and on their own).
His family, (especially his mother) have a hard time with our lifestyle, let alone our opinion on Christmas (and they are very religious!). Every year that I have been with him, we have had to fight with everyone (in his family - not his kids though) on this subject.
But we want to spend Christmas on our homestead and take care of our animals. And they want us to go to someone's house in a city - where we don't want to go. They always buy us presents - even though we tell them not to, and we won't buy them presents thinking it'll get through to them. I think, they think, we just can't afford it, because we live in the country, and they think you must be poor if you live like this! How wrong!!! We are rich in ways they don't know!!!!!
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