Christmas Started Too Early

This is not an easy position to take. Yet, in defense of decency and a holiday as yet unpolluted by commerce, one must announce like Martin Luther that here one stands, unable to do anything else. Christmas 2004 started too damned early, and those responsible for it should be boiled in their own Christmas pudding and buried with a stake of holly through their hearts. Retailers ruined Thanksgiving.

The two holidays, while in close proximity on the calendar, are ages apart in mood and values. Christmas is a sectarian celebration, the birth of Joshua ben Joseph, called Jesus by the Greeks, founder of Christianity, and possibly the savior of all mankind. Thanksgiving is far simpler, summed up in the name; it is a day of counting one’s blessings however great or small, regardless of religion or lack thereof.

Yet, as one went about preparation for the pristine and truly spiritual celebration of the good things in life, there was an unacceptable sound to the retail establishments one, of necessity, visited. While purchasing the pies for the joyous feast, Elvis Presley’s “Blue Christmas” came oozing out of the PA system. Nor was this some misguided radio stations “All Elvis Week-End,” for right afterward came a truly lousy version of “The Twelve Days of Christmas.”

Even before this, there were signs at Home Depot that things have gotten out of hand. Just prior to Halloween, artificial Christmas trees and outdoor lights were not only on display but also for sale at a promotional price. Certain neighbors, who one confesses are decent enough people, had lights and snowman decorations on their roofs.

One would like to think that these were expressions of devout followers of the Nazarene carpenter’s son. But the ringing of the cash register overpowered that charitable thought. One felt that Charlie Brown’s heartfelt cry “Can someone tell me the meaning of Christmas?” would be answered by a commercial from Target or WalMart.

The commercialization of Christmas is a fact, and too much of the economy rests on it for change ever to occur without horrible displacement of economic resources. Fair enough, one is prepared to admit defeat. However, when the Grinch threatens the one holiday that has not lost is true meaning, the gloves must come off. Fines must be levied on those who start Christmas sales before the fourth Thursday in November. Tar and feathers must be set aside for those district managers who want to extend the Christmas shopping season by starting it in October. And the death penalty for boards of directors who permit the serial killings of perfectly good Thanksgivings should be considered despite what Amnesty International says. In this fight, there can be no prisoners taken. Decent human beings must smoke out the evil-doers now.


© Copyright 2004 by The Kensington Review, J. Myhre, Editor. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written consent.


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