Roses are red.
Violets are blue,
There's two moths 'til Christmas,
But I started shopping December 26, 2014.
Halloween just passed and the ghouls have changed into Christmas elves. When stores put out their Halloween costumes and candies, they also put out the small Christmas decorations. I have even seen a row of wrapping paper. I do not understand why Christmas must arrive so early. You can call me the Grinch all you would like, but there is an entire month between October and December with an entire holiday in between (and it's not Black Friday!) Here are the problems I have with celebrating Christmas so early.
1. Thanksgiving goes by unnoticed.
Seriously, Thanksgiving has not been appreciated since I was in elementary school. It seems like it is now the day you eat your last great meal before you sacrifice your life in the war of the sales. I have talked to people who work in retail, and they have said the stores have better sales on other days in the year. It is just the thought that you are getting a great deal that makes Black Friday appealing to you. For me, Thanksgiving is more important because I get to enjoy being with my family, eating the best home-cooked meal, and watching the Dallas Cowboys play football.
2. It is not even that cold yet!
When I think of Christmas, I like to imagine a cold, snowy day. I do not think of Christmas when I walk outside in a tee-shirt on a hot, sunny day in October. In the film "A Christmas Story," the parents sit in their chair after their children have gone to bed on Christmas Eve, and they watch the snow fall.
In my mind, that is one of the most perfect cinematic scenes depicting Christmas because it is so peaceful, and I can feel the happiness that accompanies it. Then, Ralphie wakes up the next morning to a beautiful snow covered yard, and he gets excited because it is finally Christmas. For me, the cold really sets me in the Christmas spirit.
3. The true meaning of Christmas becomes lost.
For me, Christmas was always a magical time of the year. It is a time where I get to enjoy being with my family. It is a stress free period from school and work. There might be a little stress about food or presents, but it works itself out in the end. It is a time where I appreciate everything that has been given to me, but when people start crazing about it so early, the magical feelings become lost in translation. Christmas music turns from lovely to annoying, red and green look obnoxious, and the "25 Days of Christmas" films extend into "55 Days of Christmas." The holiday should not be this precious about coming to an end.
I love Christmas; it is my favorite holiday. I just think that it should stay in December. If you put up your Christmas tree the day after Halloween, then you are just in the holiday spirit that I have yet to find. It is a magical time of the year and I just do not want to spoil the fun too early.
