It was all over in the news today that yesterday they cut down the giant Christmas tree that will be erected in the Rockefeller Center and lit up on December 2 this year.
Well, Christmas is almost here. It is six weeks away and it is coming. Boy, how time flies.
But why is it coming back? Did Christmas ever leave?
I know that Christmas supposed to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. It is a nice, warm, apolitical holiday.
Growing up in a Jewish family we never celebrated Christmas. Actually, we did exchange presents but did not have a Christmas tree. When I was about five years old I couldn't understand why we didn't have a tree. I nagged to my Grandmother who eventually bought me a small tree. I was in seventh heaven.
Unfortunately throughout the years Christmas lost its charm, its importance and, primarily its meaning.
Now, it is nothing more than a shopping marathon. Stores stay open 24 hours or open and close at unheard of hours. Businesses prepare year ahead for this event. Some even stay open late on Christmas Eve, and open on Christmas Day requiring their employees to work.
Weeks ago the Holiday advertising started. Every year it seems these things start earlier and earlier and, last longer and longer.
It feels like pre-holiday sales start in July while post-holiday sales end in June. So, we have an entire year of Christmas. Now, isn't this a dream for the stores?
The only advantage of Christmas losing its religious meaning is that now almost all denominations celebrate the holiday. Just the fact that families get together, exchange presents points to its importance.
This is not an event when one has to get filthy drunk in order to celebrate. Just be nice to one's family, show appreciation to loved ones is enough.
The religious will celebrate the birth of Jesus but the rest of us will just sit back and enjoy the Holiday.
Well, Christmas is almost here. It is six weeks away and it is coming. Boy, how time flies.
But why is it coming back? Did Christmas ever leave?
I know that Christmas supposed to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. It is a nice, warm, apolitical holiday.
Growing up in a Jewish family we never celebrated Christmas. Actually, we did exchange presents but did not have a Christmas tree. When I was about five years old I couldn't understand why we didn't have a tree. I nagged to my Grandmother who eventually bought me a small tree. I was in seventh heaven.
Unfortunately throughout the years Christmas lost its charm, its importance and, primarily its meaning.
Now, it is nothing more than a shopping marathon. Stores stay open 24 hours or open and close at unheard of hours. Businesses prepare year ahead for this event. Some even stay open late on Christmas Eve, and open on Christmas Day requiring their employees to work.
Weeks ago the Holiday advertising started. Every year it seems these things start earlier and earlier and, last longer and longer.
It feels like pre-holiday sales start in July while post-holiday sales end in June. So, we have an entire year of Christmas. Now, isn't this a dream for the stores?
The only advantage of Christmas losing its religious meaning is that now almost all denominations celebrate the holiday. Just the fact that families get together, exchange presents points to its importance.
This is not an event when one has to get filthy drunk in order to celebrate. Just be nice to one's family, show appreciation to loved ones is enough.
The religious will celebrate the birth of Jesus but the rest of us will just sit back and enjoy the Holiday.
The reason why the small shops open all hours because they are forced to. It is vital to their survival. I know it from experience.
ReplyDeleteJ
Xmas is for kids and gift giving.
ReplyDeleteI have 5 grand kids and still I do find shopping a real chore. Everyone has all they want and more.
But here we are just going crazy to find something.
At my age this kind of stress is unhealthy.