NOW it’s Christmastime
Happy Holidays,
I say now because they have officially begun.
I’m not Scrooge or the Grinch but I have a hard time accepting the Christmas marketing machine before early December.
I know that the day people start returning their Halloween costumes to the rental shops Santa suits are already on display. GIVE US A BREAK. I know that November isn’t a month full of holidays but that doesn’t mean we need St. Nick and the gang shoved down our throats.
So I’ve come up with a checklist. Not until every item is checked is it officially Christmas in my books.
- Has Hanukkah started? (How can you say happy holidays without more than one being in effect?)
- Has a snowflake fallen. (I only require one and it doesn’t need to maintain form upon hitting the ground.)
- Have you already gotten sick of Christmas music and then, about halfway through the month, heard a song and started to feel whistful?
- Has someone you know already thrown an ugly sweater party? 
- Did you watch the claymation Rudolph on TV? 
- Is egg nog on sale? (With this year’s expiration date on it… I won’t be making that mistake again.)
- Have you or a friend already been asked to be Santa for a group of children?
- Have you made at least 3 references to cousin Eddie and watched National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation at least once?
Yes? Congratulations, it’s officially Christmastime.
Merry Christmas
I agree entirely. I think the standard rule should be that Christmas season starts when an advent calendar can be opened – Dec. 1.
ESPN.com writer Gregg Easterbrook dedicates a space to his weekly football column to submitted photos showing Christmas being celebrated far too early across the United States. He calls this the Unified Theory of The Creep.
http://bit.ly/undmk
Christmas is unlike any holiday. Canadians don’t start preparing for Easter in February, and no one buys their Thanksgiving turkey in July. I blame shopping malls for the early onset of Christmas. Once Thanksgiving ends, stores need a way to beef up their sales.
I, for one, am not a premature celebrator. I refuse to listen to any Christmas music until Dec. 15 and you won’t see me watching the Griswolds until at least Dec. 10. I don’t even do my shopping before I can do the count down to Christmas on one hand.
But, Christmas season is upon us, so here is a small dose of holiday cheer.
Kiel Edge
December 14, 2009
Geoff, I live out the holidays every day of the year. I have been listening to Christmas music since mid-June and usually have a variety of Peanuts holiday specials lined up on YouTube ready to watch. I am not the sort of person to make a big deal about it because some people really don’t like to start early. However, next time you’re looking for a holiday fix in the off-season remember that with Wylie, every day is Christmas Day.
davwyl
December 15, 2009