Burned out on Christmas...already??

Posted on Thursday 7 December 2006 at 9:05 AM - Post Comment

Ba Humbug!!

I love Christmas.  I really do.  I love celebrating Jesus birth.  I think of cozy warm home, twinkling lights, hot chocolate, red bows, snow, Christmas carols that sing of Jesus....

It started way back in the beginning of October as I was trying to avoid the aisle with the Halloween decorations...the very next aisle was Christmas decorations.  I was actually in a bit of shock...lights, garland, and stockings out with witches, skeletons and monsters...that was just wrong.  By the time Halloween rolled around, most retailers in our area had most of their Christmas stuff out, the Halloween and Thanksgiving decorations on discount.  Yes, the Thanksgiving decore was discounted with the Halloween stuff.  I thought it was some kind of mistake, but I picked up a few fall related things anyway.  Then I noticed that quite a few houses in our area had Christmas lights up already.  Not too uncommon in our cold weather area (it's a whopping 19 degrees F outside right now and we're under some snow advisory).  What made me notice was that they were not just up...but on.  A few even had trees up and lit in the windows...and it was just the beginning of November!!  And then the Christmas commercials on TV, and I couldn't believe I was hearing Christmas music on the radio...way before Thanksgiving.  One station was already playing 24-hour Christmas music.  Now, I admit that I sometimes pull out some of my favorite Christmas hymns during the year, but Rocking around the Christmas Tree and Santa Claus Is Coming To Town get old fast.  I was beginning to think I was the only one who was celebrating Thanksgiving and had fall decorations out in my home.  Black Friday and Cyber Monday usher in the full blown season of retailers pushing people to overspend.  Yes, the TV says, on top of buying $200 stocking stuffers and gifts for ALL your family and friends you should be spending at least $20-25 on each teacher, and they suggested a bottle of champaigne for the hair dresser...but remember your letter carriers legally can't accept anything over $20.  Oh, and don't forget to buy the dancing Rudolph to go with your dancing Santa.  And we must buy a stocking for the puppy too!  Oh, hey!  The Smith's have added 4 new lawn decorations...we'll need to buy 5.   I'm nauseated now. 

So here I am, FINALLY packing up my fall decorations for that ignored holiday that falls between Halloween and Christmas.  I'm getting ready to put up my Christmas decorations, test all my lights and decide where I'll put our tree this year.  But honestly...this over-commercialization of Christmas has almost burned me out...and it's only December 7th.   Now I look at all my Christmas stuff and long for simplicity, less Christmas and more Jesus.  I'm thinking garage sale. 

I agree with you!

Posted by Tinakay on Thursday 7 December 2006 at 10:57 AM - Link

Christmas is over comercialized. Every year it gets worse. I try to ignore it. But it is getting harder every year. I always decorate for fall and we take down those ecorations a week after Thanksgiving! That is may favorite Holiday. I love Thanksgiving. I do not want that pushed aside.
I hope you have a great day!

Tina Kay

Our family nipped this in the bud!!

Posted by gokings13 on Thursday 7 December 2006 at 1:41 PM - Link

We chose a long long time ago to give each child only 3 gifts. They make a list, and we choose from it. MIND YOU it's not the *latest gotta have*, they get 2 modest gifts and one expensive gift. Here in America kids have more than they need anyway!!
We don't "shop". We have a list, we go, we buy, we leave. That's it. We don't watch tv or listen to the radio so we are not bombarded by *messages*.
We send out Christmas cards that bear the message of our Savior......only. No happy holidays, or happy winter time. The simple gospel, that's it.
WE have taken control of "christmas". It doesn't control us. We try hard to "come out and be different". I pray that we make a difference in someones life!
Laura

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Posted by Janny on Thursday 7 December 2006 at 2:13 PM - Link

Well said! I could'nt agree more!
~Janny~