After hearing it from quite a few people over the last few days I know I’m not alone when I say it just doesn’t feel like Christmas is only a few days away.
I know the signs are everywhere….trees, decorations, lights and those lovely front-lawn inflatables. I’ve heard enough holiday music to last me a lifetime, every radio and TV commercial and newspaper ad is aimed at shopping and gifts, cookies and candy are everywhere and it seems like everyone is sending out cards with pictures of their children and pets. Of course the WOBM Christmas Classic tips-off at the Ritacco Center Saturday & Sunday and that’s something I directly associate with Christmas. If that’s not enough to remind you tis’ the season there is traffic…worse than ever. I was driving northbound on Hooper Avenue in Toms River around 5 o’clock last night and it took me at least 15 minutes to go less than a mile between Washington Street and Route 37…a trip that would usually take about 45 seconds.
Except for the fact that it’s not really cold all the other ingredients are there to remind you that Christmas is almost here so why don’t I feel it? I’m convinced that it has something to do with being numb over the fact that there’s no slow building to December 24th and 25th like there used to be. Years ago the Christmas season started when Santa Claus made his appearance at the very end of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Now it seems like the “big guy” arrives in malls just after Halloween which has sort of become the unofficial start of the season. Just as we say goodbye to pumpkins and witches it’s hello to holly and wreaths with no time in between.
When I was younger just about everyone put up their tree within a week or two of Christmas and many didn’t decorate until Christmas Eve….it was the final act in getting ready for Santa Claus to arrive. Now you drive around on Thanksgiving and see trees in windows….why the rush? To me the best part was each day as you got closer it felt more and more like there was a true holiday spirit. Now we have pushed everything so early and so hard that Christmas Day is just the end of a two-month odyssey.
Heck…we might as well start playing “It’s Beginning to Look a lot like Christmas” on July 4th next year.
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2 comments:
The next Holiday party will be a BBQ while it is 90 degrees :-)
You are right. Malls start the Christmas season much too early and it does take away from the exciting time period between Black Friday and Christmas.
Perhaps your radio station shares some of the blame in 'rushing Christmas' since right after Thanksgiving you play NOTHING but holiday music!!! Did anyone there ever think that perhaps not EVERYONE who listens to your little station celebrates this holiday?? What ARE you thinking???
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