I always think of October as Halloween, November as Thanksgiving, and December as "those winter holidays." Apparently, commercial stores such as Longs Drugs and Safeway follow a different mantra. In November I spied wreaths and miniature Santa Clauses who dance to "Jiggle Bell Rock" among the paper turkeys.
"When I was out to dinner with my family, it wasn’t even thanksgiving yet, and they were already playing Christmas carols," senior Jennifer Audet said. "It seems like every year Christmas gets pushed earlier and earlier."
As December takes off, almost all business commercials focus on the Christmas shopping fever. What happened to Chanukah, Yule, or Kwanzaa? In a country so concerned with being politically correct, it seems that as a nation we areremiss when it comes to the winter holidays. While some television shows feature episodes like The OC’s "Chrismukkah," this blend of religious holidays doesn’t happen often in the media. Personally, I’m still waiting for some quality Jew soap operas to complement "Charlie Brown’s Christmas."
Going back to two of the main ideas on which the United States was founded (freedom and diversity), many immigrants came here for religious freedom and for the so-called potpourri of cultures. That diversity, needless to say, is not reflected in the commercial media. Most shoppers would not be offended enough by the Christmas 50% off sales to boycott them; however, if companies changed "Christmas Holiday Sale" to "Winter Holiday Sale," they would not risk alienating the non-Christian part of the population. According to a 2005 study conducted by a religious statistical website, Adherents.com, Christians make up approximately 33% of the world population. While that is decidedly a large chunk, there is still the two-thirds of the population that is not Christian to consider.
Christmas celebrators, despite the apparent favor, are not exactly caroling for joy.
"Some people get so caught up in the commercial aspect of the holidays that they lose sight of what they’re supposed to be celebrating in the first place," Audet said. "The first thing that comes to mind is the Thanksgiving day-after sales, where people rush to the stores at five in the morning."
Other Paly students seem to agree that there should not be so much holiday shopping pressure.
"The stress is killing the fun spirit of the holidays for everyone," senior Sereena Ojakian said. "The gifts aren’t that important. They’re just supposed to be something you thought a friend or family member would like and you give it to them because you love them."
In some cases, people who cannot stand the rush of purchasing presents leave for the holidays.
"We went last year to Hawaii because we didn’t want to deal with the stresses of the holidays," Ojakian said. "I love holiday shopping, but it’s supposed to be fun and not stressful."
One non-Christian celebrator is just happy for cheap tickets.
"We like to travel on Christmas Eve because plane tickets are much cheaper. This year we are going to see the 49ers play on Christmas Eve," senor Noa Kornbluh said.
Whether you are Christian, Jewish, or worship the Flying Spaghetti Monster, Paly students and I agree: the holidays should be appreciated with family and friends. The commercialized nature of the holidays, while it does not inhibit this goal, certainly adds unnecessary stress to the season. So whatever it is you plan for this year, be sure to relax and enjoy the two and a half weeks off from school.