hatman | (no subject)

I've been seeing Christmas all over the place this month. Macy's has had a nook with a tree and all since the beginning November. One of the local radio stations has been on an all-Christmas playlist for some time now. I've been seeing Christmas ads on TV since before Halloween. And I live in New Jersey, where there's no shortage of Jews, and there are healthy and growing populations of Muslims and Hindus, too.

It used to be that Christmas season started in mid-December or so. Then it expanded to encompass the rest of the month. I'd almost gotten used to the idea of its inescapable presence for six weeks starting at the end of Thanksgiving. But now it's spread to all of November and seems to have a decent foothold in October.

I don't want to quash your celebration, but I don't like having it crammed down my throat. Just about everyone has some kind of holiday around winter solstice time. It'd be nice if we all acknowledged that variety together, in its proper time. But instead we have this ever-spreading monocultural commercialized juggernaut.

From where I'm standing, there's no war on Christmas. Christmas has declared war on the rest of the calendar, and it seems to be winning.

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That last paragraph is print worthy -- you should write a version of this post and send it to your local paper. Or even a big paper, like the NYT. It would make a great letter to the editor.

The stores in my part of the metro-DC area have been displaying Christmas trees and such for sale since mid-October. It wasn't even Halloween yet, much less Thanksgiving. Insane.

It's not just those who don't celebrate Christmas who think this is beyond ridiculous. Many of those of us who do are right there with you.

Hmm. I'm sending a copy of this to Bill O'Rielly. And I tried sending something of the sort (a longer, less belligerent version of that last paragraph, in defense of "Happy Holidays") as a letter to the editor of the local (and notably Christian Right) Florida paper. (It didn't get printed.) But the NYT... worth a shot. Wouldn't have thought of that. Thanks (for the idea and the encouragement). :)

Sent to the NYT:

It used to be that Christmas Season started in mid-December or so. Then it expanded to encompass the rest of the month. I'd almost gotten used to the idea of its inescapable presence (store displays, radio songs, TV ads) for six weeks starting at the end of Thanksgiving. But now it's spread to all of November and seems to have a decent foothold in October.

I don't want to quash your celebration, but I don't like having it crammed down my throat. Just about everyone has some kind of holiday around winter solstice. It'd be nice if we all acknowledged that variety together, in its proper time. But instead we have this ever-spreading monocultural commercialized juggernaut. It seems like, instead of a War On Christmas, Christmas has declared war on the rest of the calendar.

It should be a time of celebration, of reflection, of family and friends. A time to bring light, warmth, and joy to the heart of winter. We should wish each other "Happy Holidays!" in cheerful exultation of this common thread in our religious and ethnic diversity. The phrase should be understood to have special meaning. "Whatever the name of your holiday, whatever it means to you, may it be a happy one, and may it bring us all together."

This year, don't just accept Christmas for what it has become. Do your part to renew the true spirit of the season. And, when it's time, I hope you have Happy Holidays.

We'll see if anything comes of it. :)

Well, I certainly like it! I hope they print it. If not, it will definitely due to space, not quality of writing. :)

Thanks! *beams* :)

We'll see. Their autoresponse says that they'll get back to me within 3 business days if they're going to use it. If not, I can consider myself free to submit to another paper. In which case I'll probably try the main NJ paper, and maybe the one in Florida again.

It's not just those who don't celebrate Christmas who think this is beyond ridiculous. Many of those of us who do are right there with you.

Exactly! I'm sick of the commercialization of all of it. Fine to have a couple isles with some trinkets; just don't put them out till at LEAST after Thanksgiving. Fine to play the occasional Christmas carol, but non-stop carols from the beginning of November on is rather sickening even for someone like me, who celebrates Christmas. (And personally, I think it'd be interesting to see more Chanukkah or Kwanzaa decorations. Some variety, maybe?)

I don't mind displays of Christmas or any other holiday, but when it gets earlier and earlier each year, and more and more commercialized . . . ugh!

You're preaching to the choir! 99.9 has been playing 24/7 Christmas music since Nov. 1st! I'd just like to make it through Thanksgiving before belting out Feliz Navidad.

i love christmas. frankly, i LOVE seeing decorations and such in stores any time of year. it makes me all warm and fuzzy inside. but i'd be all for variety, perhaps give equal time to holidays of other religions? and "happy holidays" is sensible.