Caray, Caray!

When our kids were young, my sister and I had a tradition of going to the local mall the day after Thanksgiving while our kids stayed with our mother and aunt at the farm. It was our one and only day out alone without any other family members. We bought some gifts and had lunch , but it was mainly a great day out together. I have not done that in quite a few years. I shop early for my gifts.
 

"Retail creep" used to bother me but no more. It is just one more thing that has changed over time over which I have no control. I will be out shopping tomorrow but not necessarily for gifts. Almost went out tonight but it was too cold.

Jarifa


 

I absolutely hate what has happened to Christmas. I have always refused to be gobbled up by the commercialization of the holiday.

My 35-year old son was born on October 30th, and I've almost come to dread his birthday because sure enough the TV XMAS commercials start flooding the airwaves just about that time. I remember days when they would at least wait until after Thanksgiving to bombard us. To me personally the whole commercialization of the holiday season is sickening.

Instead of spending time with family and friends and giving thanks, we've become a society of shopping. I refuse to be a part of it, but can understand those who want to shop for young children and want to get caught up in the shopping craze. But not me.

When my daughter was young, I was one of the only mothers who refused to stand in long lines at Toys R Us to buy the horrendous looking Cabagge Patch doll, or to stand in line to buy $100 Michael Jordan tennis shoes that my son would grow out of in 3 months.

I must sound like a scrouge, but this is how I feel. Let me have my family and friends around me during this special time, give thanks for what I have, and attend Mass to ask for the well-being and blessings of others.

And just think, no sooner do we finish the holiday season on TV, but then we get hit with commercials about Tax Season!

Sorry for the rant.
 

I know there was a time many years ago when I would go out the day after Thanksgiving for a little shopping. Real life has solved that dilemma. I have arthritis, especially a bad knee, that limits my shopping time. Our more-or-less grown children get enough financial assistance through the year that we can only spend a small token amount on them for Christmas.

Even if I had more energy and money, I wouldn't battle the crowds. Happy to be at home resting after producing a major dinner. I don't like the promotion of Christmas creeping earlier and earlier in the year.
 

Thank you for sharing that article UA. I agree with you 100%. I worked in retail 10 years ago for Robinson's May (bought out by Macy's) and Sears and was fortunate that they were still closed on Thanksgiving but I do remember people making comments like your friend. I'm afraid that this may happen to Christmas too. I joined the Boycott Black Thursday group on facebook (it has been featured in the media) and encourage you all to take a look and help spread the word. Happy Thanksgiving!
 

I will probably go up to Bath & Body Works later because they have a special deal and I haven't been there in a while. However, I have my Christmas shopping done.

One friend who worked in retail for ages is now very grateful to not be in that world anymore. Thanks to the normal pre-Christmas shopping period of her time she learned to hate Christmas. This stuff makes her blood boil.
 

My big peeve is the term "Black Friday." Advertising firms have decided for some reason that the description for when a retailer shows a profit is a good way to sell, sell, sell. I think it sounds too much like Black Tuesday, when things went horribly wrong...

We are old enough that crowds and noise just don't excite us all that much. I wouldn't go into a store on Thanksgiving if they were giving stuff away! Hate the idea of that much greed. Please, people, one day, just one, for our families. Please.

Two of our children were born in December (10th and 11th) and they always asked that we not decorate for Christmas until after their birthdays. They will be 39 and 32 this year and we still hold to this tradition.

One more peeve... "Holiday" trees. Mike and I are considering going to our town's holiday tree lighting and bringing Easter eggs and valentines. We won't but it's fun to think about.

Mrs. Crankypants is alive and well, folks.
 

Emilia,

I love your tradition of holding off to decorate your tree with your children / you adults.

Our wedding anniversary is on December 7th (40 years) and my husband's birthday on December 13th.

We could never enjoy the holiday because he worked in a hotel and was on call all through the season for banquets and sspecial events.

Then our daughter and son went to work in retail and our family just wasn't complete. Now they both work in hotels like their Dad and have families of their own. My husband is retired and the kids live close by so with their one day off at Christmas, we celebrate Latin style with Mass, etc.

I want to join you at the Christmas Easter Egg table.


 

Sorry last rant I promise.

In reading the morning news, I've realized that shopping on Thanksgiving or Black Friday is dangerous! People are actually getting hurt today by boisterous and rowdy shoppers across the Country.

Let the shopper beware!#
 

Hi Victoria, Let's make an all-inclusive 'holiday' tree. Ornaments representing every holiday we can think of. I'm kinda liking that idea, the more I think about it.
 

Emilia,
Loving your idea.
 

I'm chiming in horribly late, but I just wanted to THANK Victoria for "ranting" because I feel exactly the same way. Christmas used to be very special and precious to me because you had to wait for it and it was such a fleeting thing. Now it's a multi-month extravaganza of crassness and idiotic political feuds. It lasts so long that I'm tired of it long before the 25th finally comes around. And that makes me really sad.

It's not even the shopping that I mind. If people want to shop on Thanksgiving day or the day after (especially as a family activity), AND if employees want to work (I realize many of them don't), that's their business. It's HEARING about for so many weeks ahead of time, and the "top story" news coverage of people lining up outside of stores, that gets on my nerves. Shopping should never be a news story. Big-box stores pay for advertising time to publicize their special pre-holiday sales and hours. It's pretty lazy for journalists to be giving them freebie attention when there are real things going on in the world.

I often end up having to shop soon after Thanksgiving for groceries, supplies, BIL's bday present, etc. and I HATE that this is considered "Black Friday" shopping just because a bunch of advertisers decided that "Black Friday" should be a Thing.

I despise hype and hysteria in general, and twice as much when I feel that it's eclipsing the very thing that I'd like to be able to enjoy.

Argh.
And now I must apologize for ranting as well.
Sorry! (But I meant every word!)