It’s the most politically debated time of the year. Somewhere over the last two decades the holidays have become less about spending time with your family and celebrating your religion and more about political correctness. The magic of Christmas is slowly being replaced with artificial holiday cheer, picket signs, and protests.
In light of the Starbucks red cup fiasco, many Simon Malls were also in the line of fire for their new “glacier” Santa Claus set up. Where there used to be Christmas trees and oversized presents, now sits a basic white plastic glacier with one seat for Santa. People were outraged over the futuristic looking set up, complaining that the holiday cheer is being stripped from them. A group on Facebook called “Boycott Simon Malls” popped up shortly after the new displays did and Simon Property Group briskly apologized, saying the displays were “a mistake.” They have since added more decorations in many of the locations where the new glacier displays are. For example, in the picture below you can see that they have added one Christmas tree.
When I was younger, one of the best parts about Christmas time was getting to sit on Santa’s lap in the mall. I can still remember waiting in line and feeling jittery about getting to tell Santa what I wanted most for Christmas. Of course, as I grew up I realized Christmas wasn’t all about seeing Santa. Still, seeing the decorations around undoubtedly makes me happy. Who can blame me? The little girl in me loves seeing the kids standing anxiously in line waiting for their turn to sit on Santa’s lap, especially because at one time I was standing in line too. I, more than most, love seeing the tinsel weaved around staircases and big red ribbons decorating the pillars. I love the over-sized Christmas tree decorations hanging from the ceilings and the smell of gingerbread and pine filling the air. I look forward to all of those things around the holidays—but the decorations aren’t everything.
My family and I celebrate Christmas each year surrounded by loved ones and focusing on what is important—each other. Of course, I would love to argue that we are One Nation Under God and I have every right to celebrate my religious holidays the way that they have always been celebrated. I might also want to talk about how until Big Brother strips us of all of our rights and freedoms like they did in the utopian society of 1984 no one will ever be truly satisfied. When will this debate stop? Does Yankee Candle have to remove all holiday scents from the store? Does the "Christmas Tree Shop" have to be renamed to the "All-inclusive Holiday Shop"? Will Macy's be forced to remove Santa Clause from their Thanksgiving Day parade? There will always be something to fight over—there will always be someone out there who is unhappy with whatever is going on. I could rant about how I one day want my children to have the opportunity to sit on Santa’s lap the way I had the chance to—but I won’t. Even though it absolutely boggles my mind that people can be this sensitive about a jolly old man with a big belly and a beard or beautiful icicle lights hanging in a building, I digress.
I won’t focus on any of those things because that’s not the point of the holidays. The holidays are meant for giving to others and spending time with the people you love. I refuse to let the color of a coffee cup or the way the mall is decorated blind me from what is most important. Saying "Merry Christmas" is not a sin, so I will continue to say it for as long as I celebrate it, regardless of if there are decorations hanging in the store or not. This year for Christmas, I'm skipping the new bike and asking Santa for a country where my religion can be celebrated in public guilt-free and protest-free.
From my family to yours, Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays.
