Quick reminder for those of you who seem a touch confused: It is the first week of November… We are almost two entire months away from Christmas. Please — turn off the carols.
Yes, I know it’s cliché, but I am one of those people who can’t stand early Christmas-enthusiasts. However, my reasoning is not quite as common as my opinion. I don’t mind your early decorating, avid planning or annoying phone greetings. I am honestly worried about you.
I bought a Christmas candy cane this morning ....:) it's way too early for such antics, I just couldn't help my self :) #christmasobsessed
— Joss Stone (@JossStone) November 3, 2015
While Christmas is undoubtedly a happy holiday for a majority of Americans, it does not deserve an entire two to three month celebration period (here, I would like to note that the true meaning of Christmas is to celebrate the birth of Jesus, and if your only means of celebration includes praising him, feel free to continue at your desired magnitude). I say this primarily because Christmas’ true meaning is rarely celebrated anymore. The birth of Jesus didn’t include a feast or Santa Claus, but on his birthday — it’s what we look forward to.
Yes @BestBuy + @Walmart it is WAY too early to get people to buy stuff they don't need and can't afford for Christmas. WAY too early. Stop.
— Megha Desai (@Meghatron5) October 25, 2015
Especially in this post-Halloween time, the temptation to prepare is high. The Black Friday sneak-peaks are being released, 99.9 KEZ is beginning to play Christmas music and some people are already setting up lights and trees, but for what? To get ready for a day characterized by gluttony and greed? I am not going to lie, I enjoy Christmas just as much as any other American, but I am willing to admit that aside from my Grandmother’s prayer before we feast, there is not a single mention of Jesus on Dec. 25. I like Christmas for the people, the presents and the food. Period.
I have work and school, some of you have families, and many of you have to-do lists long enough to get you to next Christmas. Therefore, I encourage you to live your life on a day-to-day basis. Planning is one thing, but being engulfed by meticulous preparation for a single day a couple of months from now just isn’t healthy.
Whether or not you’re willing to admit it, it is likely that you agree with me. Based on that alone, it just isn't healthy to be preparing for such a holiday two and three months early. We, as a nation, have so much going on in our day-to-day lives. We can't possibly have time for this behavior. Please, try to dig deeper than Christmas. We cannot allow our lives to appear so particularly miserable that a single holiday engulfs the entire last quarter of the year.
The holiday is stressful enough in its surrounding days; it needn’t occupy much more than a couple of amicable prep-weeks. For now, let’s turn off the jingles, leave the decorations in the garage and let the anticipation build (at least until after Thanksgiving).
Finally, for the scrooges reading, I am not one of you. However, I refuse to be consumed by a materialistic day. I refuse to put my life, my schedules and my goals on hold in expectancy of Christmas and I advise that you join me in my effort to live through the “holiday season” — not merely fast forward to Dec. 25.
Related Links:
An open letter to Retail Christmas
Reach the columnist at Kendra.Penningroth@asu.edu or follow @KPenningroth on Twitter.
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Editor’s note: The opinions presented in this column are the author’s and do not imply any endorsement from The State Press or its editors.
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