Issue Date: 12/5/05
Real meaning of Christmas lost in middle of distractions
By John Asbury
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It seems that with every year, the Christmas season is hurled forward without warning.
Sometime between Halloween and Thanksgiving, it is the general consensus of retailers and marketing executives that the entire country should be immersed in festive cheer. Yet, with the countdown to Dec. 25 being marked by an abundance of sudden Christmas spirit, the general public is bound to either become jaded or falsely lulled into the season's joy.
Between Christmas carols and the appearance of seasonal labels at Starbucks, the true meaning of Christmas gets lost in the rush for the holidays. While searching for that feeling of warmth, the holidays instead become a time of chaos and distraction.
Feelings of holiday joy can't be turned on like a string of flickering lights and an aluminum snowman. However, that's what is expected with the onslaught of Christmas merchandise.
During the last month, Christmas trees as fake as the holiday spirit they symbolize, have been brought into shopping malls overnight and the sounds of the Black-Eyed Peas were instantly replaced by Bing Crosby.
The spirit is especially difficult to find in California, amid palm trees and 80-degree temperatures. Traditionally, the season is remembered by snow covered streets and families gathered around fireplaces. But here on the west coast, we must settle for Santa in board shorts and neon signs of "Seasons Greetings."
It's nearly impossible to abandon the idea of anything but Christmas when the seasons barely change and the only idea of anything different comes in the form of street and store shop decorations. Regardless of saying "Merry Christmas" or "Happy Holidays," the problem is there is very little spirit behind the looming holidays when we should be focused on what the holidays mean.
While it would be ideal to cherish the season as it happens, unfortunately day-to day life interferes and we are not able to devote the time and energy necessary to embrace the ideas of togetherness and festivities associated with Christmas until we are actually placed in that setting, away from other distractions.
Sometime between Halloween and Thanksgiving, it is the general consensus of retailers and marketing executives that the entire country should be immersed in festive cheer. Yet, with the countdown to Dec. 25 being marked by an abundance of sudden Christmas spirit, the general public is bound to either become jaded or falsely lulled into the season's joy.
Between Christmas carols and the appearance of seasonal labels at Starbucks, the true meaning of Christmas gets lost in the rush for the holidays. While searching for that feeling of warmth, the holidays instead become a time of chaos and distraction.
Feelings of holiday joy can't be turned on like a string of flickering lights and an aluminum snowman. However, that's what is expected with the onslaught of Christmas merchandise.
During the last month, Christmas trees as fake as the holiday spirit they symbolize, have been brought into shopping malls overnight and the sounds of the Black-Eyed Peas were instantly replaced by Bing Crosby.
The spirit is especially difficult to find in California, amid palm trees and 80-degree temperatures. Traditionally, the season is remembered by snow covered streets and families gathered around fireplaces. But here on the west coast, we must settle for Santa in board shorts and neon signs of "Seasons Greetings."
It's nearly impossible to abandon the idea of anything but Christmas when the seasons barely change and the only idea of anything different comes in the form of street and store shop decorations. Regardless of saying "Merry Christmas" or "Happy Holidays," the problem is there is very little spirit behind the looming holidays when we should be focused on what the holidays mean.
While it would be ideal to cherish the season as it happens, unfortunately day-to day life interferes and we are not able to devote the time and energy necessary to embrace the ideas of togetherness and festivities associated with Christmas until we are actually placed in that setting, away from other distractions.