I love Christmas. I just want to say that before I start complaining about so much of the stuff that comes with Christmas. To me Christmas is a very important day because it is the day we celebrate the birth of Christ. I love the beautiful music, visiting with family, and decorating the tree.
I also love Thanksgiving. And the season of Advent. That is why I am very bothered by the fact that I began seeing Christmas decorations on display in stores, Christmas advertisements on television, and Christmas lights on houses in October! I just saw a commerical on television yesterday advertising a Christmas program for kids that is going to be aired this week!
I think in some ways people think this early celebration of Christmas somehow enhances the holiday. I, however, think that it takes away from it very much, not to mention taking away almost completely the celebration of Thanksgiving and the preparation for Christmas that is the season of Advent. It seems that Christmas would be so much more meaningful if we waited in anticipation until the actual day to celebrate. What a celebration it would be! I must admit that in the last few years I am pretty much sick of Christmas by the time it even gets here. Even though I try to avoid Christmas as much as I can until we get close to December 25th, it is almost impossible. I am bombarded with commercials, advertisements, and music. It's everywhere!
So here is my suggestion: Wait for Christmas. Give thanks and celebrate on Thanksgiving, rather than spending the day planning your 18-hour shopping trip on "Black Friday." Spend the beautiful season of Advent preparing for and anticipating the coming of Our Lord. And finally, celebrate Christmas...on December 25th!
Sunday, November 15, 2009
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I would just like to add that perhaps many are not celebrating the Christmas as we like to celebrate (Christ's birthday), but rather the secular Christmas and it has developed into a long (really long) season. Even I go to the holiday open houses in November and the Christmas trees are adorned with all kinds of things. I even saw a Christmas tree with a "playing cards" theme. It was weird. Whatever is extravagant, is secular Xmas. I hardly saw nativity scenes. I think people begin the season early because it generally does evoke a sense of comfort and good will, but they seldom find it, because they do it through consumerism and excess everything. More food, more fluff, more toys, more gadgets, more extravagance. To me, the most blessed time of all is Christmas Day when we are with family celebrating Christ's birth.
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