The Outlook

Wait…is that a Christmas tree?
    
For the past decade people have begun to notice an obvious trend in shopping malls and department stores across America. Somehow it seems that every year the “Christmas season” starts up just a little bit earlier than it did the year before. When I was a child; a mere 26 years ago, I remember that we didn’t even start talking about Christmas until after the bones had been put aside for turkey stock and my granddad had fallen asleep on the recliner watching football. In fact Thanksgiving evening was when we would get together and set up the Christmas tree.
    
But these days it seems as though Christmas has taken priority over the last 1/3rd of our year. At K-Mart I saw pre-lit pines up right alongside the pre-carved pumpkins on the 15th of October. And by November 1st Wal-Mart will have torn down all its displays for Halloween and moved up the bargain Christmas sales so that people can begin their layaway shopping season. But is this a bad thing? Does starting the holiday season 2 months before the actual date really matter? Has Thanksgiving just turned into Christmas: Part I?
    
The Pros: With the economy barely stable, people don’t have the ability to be as extravagant as there once were. Or do they? Starting the Yuletide season early also means starting the Christmas sales early. Layaway for Wal-Mart began on October 17th, K-Mart and Sears already have their Christmas options up and running. In other words this early merriment allows for people to spend small amounts of money over time rather than all at once so that they do not have to cut back so harshly on their under-the-tree giving. People also have more time to recover the budget once everything is paid off so you don’t have to scrimp till April just to stay afloat.
    
The Cons: Christmas is infectious. You are bombarded with everything from advertisements to every mini celebrity debuting their Christmas albums with annoying rehashing of the classics. You have a few good Christmas specials that we all remember from our childhoods and then everyone had to make a brand new special to modernize on the old ones. Also there is a certain stress factor during that time of year. The stores are madhouses and tensions run high for everyone to get the “right” toy for their child this year. There is the house to decorate, the parties to throw, the argument about whether city hall should be allowed to have a manger scene. It all piles up and by the 25th of December you’re just ready to have the whole thing over and done with.

And let’s not forget this is supposed to be a holiday season. It’s a special time of year when people forgo the hectic pace of their lives and give peace a chance. When people forget the icy grip of winter and find love and warmth in the company of family and friends. But in truth, it stops feeling special when you stop thinking about the meaning behind the hype and start becoming overly concerned with whether or not you’ve done Christmas “right”.

So what to do? How do you combat the sensationalized version of a deeply meaningful time of year without losing it altogether? The answer is “Keep It Simple.”

Nobody in your family needs ten presents just for them. In truth, one is enough for each member of the family. Sally will make it another year without that iPod. Johnny doesn’t really need another skateboard. You don’t need a new set of golf clubs and you don’t need a new piece of jewelry. You will all live.

Pick one activity to do each weekend in December that has nothing to do with Christmas shopping or visiting the relatives. Springfield’s Holiday in the City starts at 2 p.m. on November 26th. Get your children together and teach them the value of giving by having them wrap their old toys and donate them to a homeless shelter. Or just sit around the house and enjoy a cup of homemade hot chocolate (without the TV on) and watch the snow fall. Apparently we’re going to have a lot this year!