The Commercialization of Holidays

Every year around this time, I start thinking about the upcoming year full of holidays. First there's Halloween, then Thanksgiving, then Christmas, then New Year's, then Easter. These are the major ones, because I don't even want to get started on Christopher Columbus day, gah!

Halloween in my opinion, has actually been made better. I think that it's great children and even adults get to change who they are for one day! It's freeing, fun, and exciting. The only thing I do dislike about this holiday, is how much money candy companies make of it! I guess trick or treating is fun, but maybe we should slow down on the candy. It's sad to me that now when we think of Halloween it's not only about how cool we'll look in our costumes, but about how much candy we can get from all the people that are generously giving it away.

Thanksgiving is an awesome holiday in my mind, because on one day I see my entire family usually, and we get to eat some really delicious food, and desserts. The only thing in my opinion that ruins it is, Black Friday. Now people associate Thanksgiving with the one day a year where people can act like freaking nuts and run people over to get good deals on tvs, dvds, and lots of other stuff. This year Black Friday will be ruining my Thanksgiving, because I would have gotten to spend another day with my family, but now I'll be working Black Friday bright and early just so the consumers can grab their stuff. But at the same time, I'm also to blame, I've shopped on Black Friday and gotten great deals, who doesn't want to do that? But it's sad that when Thanksgiving comes around and we aren't thanking people for our lives, happiness, friends, family. But we're being thankful that the PS3 is on sale for $150!!! Although, I haven't always liked the beginnings of the holiday (I am part Native American), I can see the modern take on it and I appreciate being able to be thankful once a year for things that I may take for granted. It's the commercialism that gets in the way of the thankful and love part of the holiday.

Now onto Christmas, which is the last holiday I will discuss. Each and every year, as the day approaches we think about what we want and what we are getting for people. Giving is one of the best parts of the holiday I think, but we sometimes focus too much on the getting part of the holiday. Even if you are not religious, Christmas is a day to get together with family, share stories, food, laughter, hugs, and just enjoy that the people you love are there for you, and with you. I'm not sure if were teaching our children these days, that Christmas (religion aside) is about giving, loving, and celebrating together. It's not always about what we get, it's about the thought of the gift. It's about seeing family from far and wide, and it's about getting together at all which doesn't always happen. Christmas is also about snow, carols, trees, lights, hot chocolate, wreaths, ornaments, love, pie, sweaters, and fun.

Now I'm not saying that I haven't been guilty of commercializing holidays, because I definitely have before. But maybe what I'm saying is that it's gone too far, and that we need to think about what each holiday really means, religious or not, and try to leave some commercialism at the door. Buying things for people isn't always the way to say "I Love you," or "Thanks." Being there for someone, showing up when you should, calling someone when they need it or you need it, and just coming together are ways we can celebrate.

Let me know some of your favorite parts of the holidays, or ways you are going to cut down on commercialism this year.