Have you noticed how the advertising and commercialization of Christmas has come earlier and earlier every year? When I was a kid, the tinsel and decorations for Christmas did not appear in stores at the very least until after Thanksgiving, or even until after December 1 every year. Now, you’re lucky if you don’t see the Santas and Christmas trees and decorations in the stores right after Labor Day. Come on, give us a break. In my mind, this Christmas overload just creates greed and an entitlement attitude in our children. I wonder just how many of them know WHY we have Christmas. If they think the whole point of it is to get presents and buy stuff.
In my own life, I have been guilty of spending way too much every year for many years, trying to make sure each and every person on my shopping list got every thing they asked for. And because retailers were putting stuff out earlier and earlier, the people on my shopping list wanted more and more because they saw new things every time we went to a store. I was going broke trying to do that. One year I realized that I had not yet finished paying for the last Christmas before the stores were stocking their shelves with holiday displays again. It wasn’t that I has spent all that much, it was that they were putting out the displays in September.
I decided that I was tired of being broke all the time, and wanted to put a little bit of the Christmas spirit back into my holiday season, and save money at the same time. I started making gifts–a crocheted afghan, baked goods, homemade trail mix, pressed flowers in a frame, and other stuff like that. What I found though, is that a lot of people on my list don’t appreciate that sort of effort. So, instead of going back to spending big bucks on Christmas gifts, I cut back on my list. I thought that it was the thought that counted, and my thought and time that went into my efforts were not being appreciated. If I have to buy an expensive gift for that thought to count, then in my thinking that defeats the whole concept of Christmas. And I feel like the extravagant advertising and extended times for retail displays add to this gimme gimme gimme attitude more and more every year.
A blogger I read, Thimbelle over at Creeping Towards Normal, posted about a campaign of sorts to push Christmas back to where it belongs, AFTER Thanksgiving. Her friend, Suldog, started it last year and he is continuing his efforts this year with his post Thanksgiving Comes First. If you agree with this concept and would like to see the retail establishments in this country put Christmas back in the proper place, after Thanksgiving, let the world know by writing a post about it on your blog, and linking back to Suldog’s Thanksgiving Comes First post. Maybe we will get back to the lineup of school supplies followed by Halloween followed by Thanksgiving followed by Christmas. I want to have my Thanksgiving turkey before I have to start thinking about Christmas.
Devi says
October 13, 2008 at 12:04 ami know that we people out here in the blogsphere are not the only ones who think this way. but retailers will continue to do it because of the almighty dollar. and it sucks. i used to work retail and would firmly put my foot down every year when they wanted to put Christmas music on before Halloween. i mean come on. thanks for putting a voice to our over consumer, gimmie gimmie gimmie, problem. keep all your wonderful posts commin’!
CeliacChick says
October 13, 2008 at 6:11 amHey Fab G!
Have I ever told you how much I admire you and your sense of adventure?
Anyhoo…I think it is interesting that a lot of people don't even know the history behind xmas, other than the image of what the commercial world has fed them. Thought you might enjoy this History Channel article on it.
http://www.history.com/minisite.do?content_type=mini_home&mini_id=1290
Cathy says
October 13, 2008 at 6:42 amFabgrandma, I would love your homemade gifts. That is one of the many things I miss about my grandma. Every year she crotched or embroidered something for all six of us and later our spouses.
I am heading over to check out the blog. It does make sense that we could at least wait for Thanksgiving before pushing all of the Christmas goods. Cathy
Talina says
October 13, 2008 at 7:56 amVery, true. I am guilty of have already purchased two Xmas gifts for this season and Halloween isn’t even here yet.
I just like to get my shopping done in advance so I can avoid the crowds and craziness.
Gaelyn says
October 13, 2008 at 8:14 amI agree that Thanksgiving comes first. Will get a blog together and link (or try to) as requested.
Does retail think that shopping early will save their bottom line?
Karen says
October 13, 2008 at 9:03 amDevi: thanks for the confirmation. and welcome to my blog, I haven’t seen you around here before.
CeliacChick: Aw, thank you! And do you know I feel honored that you read my blog? You lead such an interesting, glamorous life. If I ever get to New York, we definitely have to do lunch.
Talina: It is ok to buy Christmas gifts all year long, I just don’t appreciate seeing Christmas displays for months and months before and being made to feel like I MUST BUY SOMETHING RIGHT NOW!
Gaelyn: Glad to see you hop on the bandwagon, too.
Emily says
October 13, 2008 at 1:34 pmI cannot tell you how many things FabSpencer has already said- “I want that!” My reply is always the same. “We’ll let Santa know and he will decide what to bring.” As far as everyone else goes- I don’t buy for adults anymore. They are old enough to know that I don’t have a money tree. But this year- handmade Christmas ornaments from my little cutie pie 🙂 Love you!
Devi says
October 13, 2008 at 6:43 pmoh i’ve been lurking for over a year. i found you through another gluten free blogger and became intrigued with your lifestyle(we are contemplating it ourselves) and enjoy your writing. i usually don’t comment unless something really grabs me, this post certainly did and i like the 365 idea. thank you for all of it 🙂
Becca Parson says
October 15, 2008 at 10:48 pmI completely agree with you, and I feel the same way about the handmade gifts, too. Too many people don’t appreciate the kind of time and effort it really takes to do that kind of thing. I’ll save my efforts for those that do.
Suldog says
October 20, 2008 at 5:44 amI just got back from vacation, thus the lateness of this reply. Thanks very much for the wonderful addition to the Thanksgiving Comes First family! I surely appreciate it!