Christmas Time

Christmas time

By Joe Renna

Christmas promotions start earlier each year, along with critical response. No doubt there is a definite commercial aspect tied to the holiday but so what. Starting the season earlier has a positive effect also, and it is more powerful than the commercialism.

The message of Christmas is not lost in the malls as some may think. The bombardment by the retailers losses it's impact over time. It is no longer an impulse to buy if the sales pitch is being made over a two month period. What does grow over time is the lessons that the holiday is ment to teach.

Christmas is a time of giving and caring. The story of the birth of Jesus is one of love, acceptance, humility, faith and hope, plus many other virtues that not only make us better individuals but the world, as a whole, a better place. The Christmas story leads us to wonder about our lives spiritually, above material trappings and physical fulfillment. It promotes the idea that we are all connected and responsible for one another. A tiny bit of that is present in every advertisement. The more we are deluged by the media reminding us to shop the more we are being reminded about the story of Christ. Some of that message is going to stick and mabe even inspire.

Arm in arm with the early arrival of merchandising is the annual appeal of charitable organizations. Poverty is not seasonal and charity should not be reserved either. Some people only think of giving when a guy in a Santa suit rings a bell in their face. If the extended holiday causes more people to be aware of those less fortunate then I'm for Christmas carolers in July.

The Christmas season has engulfed Thanksgiving, not too shabby a holiday in its own rite. Giving thanks for what we have leads to acknowledgment that there are those without. There is no better way to show thanks for what we have than sharing it with those who haven't.

The lessons brought to us through Christmas is not exclusive to Christians. The virtues that are extolled and concepts of what is right and wrong are universal beliefs that almost everyone embraces, regardless of their religion. It does seem that some people who believe need to be constantly reminded of it. And some of those people need a production as big as the Christmas holiday to realize it.

I could understand holidays that celebrate events like the Fourth of July but some holidays seem odd, as if the celebration wasn't scheduled then the concept is lost. For example, mother's should be honored everyday of the year not just when the Hallmark calendar says so.

Think of the lessons that the holidays teach, not just Christmas and Thanksgiving, but every holiday throughout the year. We should be living each day in that respect. Since very few people do so, holidays remain a necessity.

I must say holidays are magical. I've seen some people who are the biggest scoundrels year round being most gracious on a holiday. If the holiday can be extended to all year with the same result then lets go for it. Then we wouldn't need any holiday. Everyday will be a celebration of life.

Not for Nothing But...
I know a guy who breaks up with his girlfriend just before Christmas so he doesn't have to buy her a present.