Too Much

Every year it seems that the commercialized aspects of Christmas arrive earlier and earlier. This year has been the worst I have ever seen. I had stopped into a major chain store to grab a bag of candy just in case we would have any trick or treaters. This was eight or ten days before Halloween and there were people putting trees together and setting up displays of Christmas cards and decorations. I thought to myself “come on, can’t we get through Halloween before all this happens?” Really, I was so taken back. I know that people are tightening their belts right now and consumer confidence is low so I assume that is why the retailers are getting a jumpstart. More than likely it will not be a good holiday season for retailers but they say it’s down every year.

Don’t get me wrong. I used to love all of the shopping, music and even the crowds. Our families no longer exchange gifts. There are just too many of us. Back in the day however, we gave to everyone in our immediate families plus some. This meant upwards of fifty gifts plus the kids teachers and bus drivers and on it goes. Basically, I did my Christmas shopping all year round. I had to or it never would have gotten done.

Christmas has always been my favorite holiday. I took down all the wall decorations in the house and replaced them with Santa, snowmen, elves and reindeer or a winter scene. Each room was transformed. Dishes, towels, window treatments, cd’s, rugs and candles. The sights and sounds were everywhere. There were always two trees. A flocked tree upstairs all done in red and a green one downstairs with colored lights. To keep us organized, any gifts that had to go somewhere were kept upstairs under the flocked tree and the one’s that stayed home were downstairs. That way, none were ever misplaced or forgotten. We had a neighborhood competition for the best outdoor lights. My husband went so far as to put a sub panel in the garage so we wouldn’t trip a breaker with all the lights. That got all the neighbors going! But… that was then and this is now.

My husband and I have not exchanged gifts in over ten years and that’s perfectly OK with us. We give our kids (now adults) plane tickets to visit us and we give gift cards to the nieces and nephews that are still in school.

We prefer instead to have a party, inviting all our friends, neighbors and relatives that can make it out. It’s great to see everyone and with the open house format it’s fairly easy entertaining.

Last year we even broke down and bought a “permanent” tree. I must admit that it is gorgeous. One of the pre lit models and light up it does. When it’s plugged in we don’t need any other lights on in the room.

Ok, now back to my original rant. Personally, I think it’s sad that we can’t enjoy one Holiday before the next one is crammed down our throats. It would be nice if Thanksgiving weren’t forgotten somewhere in between Halloween and Christmas. I really like Thanksgiving (not just the food either) and to us it’s the “kickoff” if you will of the whole holiday season.

My thoughts are to enjoy each and everyday and make the holidays special because you are with friends and families. Not because you felt like you had to spend too much money on junk no one cares about.