Christmas part one
Well, that season is well and truly upon us now. There is no escape - everyone even your cats and dogs are sending lists to Santa. But what does Christmas mean to us in this brave new millennium? If you believe in adverts, it is presents, food, drinks and parties. Retailers and manufactures, start their commercials earlier and earlier in the year. This year, the prize goes to Azda for starting their Christmas commercials right after “Back to School” sales were over.
In the USA it is possible that shoppers are marginally protected from the Christmas commercial frenzy by the Thanksgiving commercials until the last weekend in November. But in other parts of the world, as soon as it is decently possible, (and the lines get more burred each year) shoppers are bombarded with everything from perfumes to toys to room deodorisers to music and electronic gadgets as possible gifts for people you hardly know or care about. High Streets are nightmares of crowds who look more like sleepwalkers or zombies hunting for presents. Everyone works super hard to separate us from our hard earned money in anyway possible.
In November, we are bombarded with commercials of upcoming movies, shows and TV programmes for the Christmas season. Musicians release their biggest CDs at this time; movie producers release their soppiest movies. There is a variety of Christmas this and Christmas that shows, and of course Santa Claus – and his reindeers, and his movies!!!! Santa Clause, Mrs Claus, Santa Claws and a variety of combinations that are just mind boggling.
What about the Christmas paraphernalia? There is so many of the seasonal hats, scarves, cards, underwear, reindeers, trees, lights and trimmings on sale all. And the songs, the jingles!! This year, the one I want to cancel, rub, erase and delete from existence is that one “Santa Claus is coming to town…” I might just scream if I hear it one more time. It is Argos’ favourite method of torture for this season.
Where is it written that Christmas equals gifts, toys or drinks? What has more (and expensive) gifts, more food or drinks have to do with Peace on Earth? Who said that Santa equal to Christmas? That without him there is no Christmas?
Some 2,000 years ago in a remote part of the Roman Empire a poor carpenter’s wife gave birth to a Baby Boy in an animal shelter. This event would have been unremarkable but for the signs that followed this Boy’s birth – angels sang to shepherds about peace on earth and goodwill to men. Several wise men travelled from places unknown to pay Him homage. This Child’s birth brought change to this world.
Let us look beyond the noise and commercial for the truth of Christmas – why it is a season of goodwill.
In the USA it is possible that shoppers are marginally protected from the Christmas commercial frenzy by the Thanksgiving commercials until the last weekend in November. But in other parts of the world, as soon as it is decently possible, (and the lines get more burred each year) shoppers are bombarded with everything from perfumes to toys to room deodorisers to music and electronic gadgets as possible gifts for people you hardly know or care about. High Streets are nightmares of crowds who look more like sleepwalkers or zombies hunting for presents. Everyone works super hard to separate us from our hard earned money in anyway possible.
In November, we are bombarded with commercials of upcoming movies, shows and TV programmes for the Christmas season. Musicians release their biggest CDs at this time; movie producers release their soppiest movies. There is a variety of Christmas this and Christmas that shows, and of course Santa Claus – and his reindeers, and his movies!!!! Santa Clause, Mrs Claus, Santa Claws and a variety of combinations that are just mind boggling.
What about the Christmas paraphernalia? There is so many of the seasonal hats, scarves, cards, underwear, reindeers, trees, lights and trimmings on sale all. And the songs, the jingles!! This year, the one I want to cancel, rub, erase and delete from existence is that one “Santa Claus is coming to town…” I might just scream if I hear it one more time. It is Argos’ favourite method of torture for this season.
Where is it written that Christmas equals gifts, toys or drinks? What has more (and expensive) gifts, more food or drinks have to do with Peace on Earth? Who said that Santa equal to Christmas? That without him there is no Christmas?
Some 2,000 years ago in a remote part of the Roman Empire a poor carpenter’s wife gave birth to a Baby Boy in an animal shelter. This event would have been unremarkable but for the signs that followed this Boy’s birth – angels sang to shepherds about peace on earth and goodwill to men. Several wise men travelled from places unknown to pay Him homage. This Child’s birth brought change to this world.
Let us look beyond the noise and commercial for the truth of Christmas – why it is a season of goodwill.
posted by Uaridi at 12/01/2004 01:19:00 pm
1 Comments:
You also forgot the sale of heartburn medicine for those who overindulge at Christmas there is one for Pepto Bismal which apparently works in 2 minutes and you are protected for 12 hours, Oh dear least we forget, thanks for reminding us. My dentist asked me if l had finished christmas shopping and l told her l was not shopping as l did not have any money, you should have seen the look of surprise on her face, but it is true no money equals no shopping! ama?
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