Wow! December first is here and the wonderful Christmas season is in full swing. I know that the stores have had out decorations for some time now. I find that very irritating actually. It's not even the birth of Christ they're recognizing either. It's the secular holiday they're celebrating and it seems to get shoved at the consumer earlier and earlier every single year.
Are they trying to skip Thanksgiving all together? Even though we should celebrate Thanksgiving to God every single day in our hearts, I enjoy getting together with family and having a day of special celebration of thanksgiving and fellowship with those I love every year. Thanksgiving wasn't even here yet and neighborhood Christmas lights were "turned on" already. I understand taking a nice day to hang lights on your house, but don't turn them on until at least nightfall on Thanksgiving Day, people! Whew! Sorry, I had a moment of passionate outcry about rushing Christmas.
Very simple decorations consisting of a pumpkin, a pot filled with pretty autumn leaves and a scarecrow sat next to the ironwork wrapped with leaves that decorated our front door for autumn and Thanksgiving this year -- while Christmas lights glowed from the neighborhood and surrounding area. It just looked weird. Lots of people turn on their lights and put up their trees the evening of Thanksgiving. That's nice. But it bugs me when people rush it too much. It seems to rob some of my joy and glee when I start seeing Christmas stuff around the end of October. Is it just me or does it bug you too?
Okay, so I sort of went off momentarily about my dislike of rushing Christmas and putting out decorations too early. I truly love the Christmas season. I love the lights, watching Christmas movies, drinking hot chocolate, and listening to Christmas music. Those things are warm and fuzzy and make me feel full of the Christmas spirit, but I never want to concentrate too much on all the glitzy wrappings and forget that JESUS is the reason for the season! Happy Birthday, Jesus!
Here's wishing you and yours on this first day of December a full and wonderful Christmas season that focuses on the birth of Christ and all the joy that comes with celebrating that. MERRY CHRISTMAS!
3 comments:
I agree, Susie. I feel pushed to get lights up because everyone in the neighborhood gets theirs up early. However, I only saw one house with them actually lit up before Thanksgiving and it was yet another thing for which I was grateful. And belated congratulations on completed your writing commitment. You should be very proud of yourself--I know I am! ~Judy
You know, the Christmas season tends to come and go by every year. I think it's wonderful to see the lights so early. With the economy the way it is and people struggling, I think they are looking for hope. Maybe they are turning the lights on earlier to bring a little more joy back into their lives and that of their kids. I'm not fooling myself that a good portion of the households are turning the lights on to honor Christ, but if they are doing it to bring joy, if they are doing it because they need the hope that this season offers, then I guess it is okay.
As for stores having trees out before the Halloween costumes were put up, that's a little too much. But again I think they are doing it so early because of the economy. They're hoping by adding a few weeks it will allow those who live paycheck to paycheck to be able to start thinking about Christmas earlier and therefore help balance out the store sales.
Thanks for stopping by, Judy and Renee! I appreciate your comments.
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