And so the insanity of the holidays has begun. I cannot believe the people that got up this morning before dawn to wait in line for a store to open. Or for those who even spent the night outside on the streets for the same reason! And as if that’s not enough, they get in the stores and absolutely climb all over each other and yell at each other and sometimes even break out in phsyical fights. All for a laptop or an XBOX or a cd or even stuffed animals. It’s absolutely nuts.
What makes today, the day after Thanksgiving, so special that people feel they must turn to these crazy measures? What makes this stuff, these toys so important? Furthermore, what has happened to our lovely Christmas holiday that people have to get so worked up about it? They have to get the perfect gift, have to make everyone “happy.”
Why can’t we just be happy with what we have, why can’t Christmas just be about seeing family and spending time together, celebrating a special day? Why must we worry about how “festive” the house looks, or if little Johnny gets his Playstation or if little Sue gets her EasyBake oven that she just has to have? Why is it we can’t tell our kids “no” or even “wait” anymore?
Why must we be pelted with ads about Christmas from October on? Why must it be drilled in our brain that we have to go out shopping the day after Christmas? Why must these materialistic types try to ruin Christmas for the rest ofus?
I really don’t get it. I don’t get it at all.
I agree, it’s CRAZY! I won’t celebrate Christmas until after Thanksgiving, personally. There were people with lights on their houses and even one with a tree in the window the day after Halloween! I mean, come on people - honestly. It is NUTS now-a-days!
I haven’t been shopping on this day since 1997, and probably as many years before that. I’ve no desire to get run over by the blue hairs and the other crazies and their reindeer!
*applauds* Great post, Val!
I think it’s just this idea that the media has drilled into us. “PRESENTS = love!” and “Materialism = good!”
I for one didn’t buy a single present today though.
It’s just as crazy over here. This year they want us to spend even more money than last year (and that was a record year…) Sigh!
Don’t get me wrong, I love getting and giving gifts for Christmas; but they don’t have to be so expensive!! I’ve decided that MT only gets one present from me this year, he’s going to go crazy over all the gifts from others - I don’t want to add even more from me…..
I agree completely, Valerie. I actually went out yesterday to get some supplies I needed, and people were going nuts. I have never seen so many people in that store, ever. I kept saying people are nuts/insane. I don’t even want to imagine being in a store that sold toys or other “Need to have” gifts. I for one hate when people say they need to have something when they don’t. There is a huge difference between needing and wanting. It is seriously crazy what these people do, all for crap that means absolutely nothing. Some people need a major reality check. People need to appreciate what they have, people need to not spoil their kids, and people certainly do not need to be getting violent over a fricking Xbox. So many people are spoiled, more so at Christmas. I am thankful for having a roof over my head, food in my belly, clothes on my back and being with the ones I love. I was asking my dad what if Black Friday took place on a full moon, and he said STAY HOME. ;)
I didn’t get up at dawn but I was there at 6 ;)
I hadn’t really intended to go off on a political screed, but the sad state of our country is reflected in our attitude during the holidays.
Look toward the desperation of retail outlets for selling their goods. Is there any lower they can stoop than to associate love for your child to getting him this perfect plastic talking dual-action made-in-China TV-show tie-in? And yet if they don’t manage to sell us this imported junk, our own GNP will be so abysmal - I don’t even want to think about it.
We can’t really have it both ways, it seems.