Ho-Hum Holiday

Halloween has come and gone, which means Christmas is tomorrow. At least, that’s what it feels like year after year, the second the clock strikes midnight on Nov. 1.

FYI: This year, I’ll be playing the part of The Grinch.

I’m already over it. The music, the decorations, the wish lists … count me out. Don’t get me started on the fact that it all begins entirely too early. What really grinds my gears is how obsessed people become with the holidays, for all the wrong reasons.

Now, I’m not going to be a Bible-beating preacher on this one. Everyone is entitled to their beliefs but seriously? Dec. 25 isn’t about material gifts. It shouldn’t be a pressure cooker for parents to please their spoiled, gluttonous children or for boyfriends to sweat out which piece of jewelry to buy.

The holidays aren’t about fighting a woman to the death for the new action figure or cutting off people in the parking lot for that coveted space.

It sickens me to see the “holiday spirit” consist of a “Fuck you!” and a middle finger. What’s there to celebrate in that?

I will admit, I’m not a model Catholic but I truly believe that Christmas is about the birth of Jesus and His gift to the world. I can’t speak for the non-Christian religious holidays in the wintertime, but I highly doubt that their central meaning involves steep price tags and greedy thoughts.

To me, Christmas is a time to celebrate the blessings afforded to us. It’s a time to spend with family, some who you may not see for another year or longer. It’s a chance to take just one day to rejoice and thank the Lord for all that He has given.

The presents will never go away, and I’m not suggesting they do. I’m not delusional, and I happen to enjoy creating or buying thoughtful gifts for my closest of kin. It surely sounds hypocritical, but I also know that we’re all material girls, living in a material world (to some degree).

I’ll admit that my disdain for the holiday season is especially heightened with my current job in advertising. I’m tired of reading about winter-scented candles and the hottest toys of the season. Adding sparkle and snowflakes to websites doesn’t make me merry and bright.

I just wish we could just remember that at the end of the day, it’s more than pretty packaging and empty wallets. It’s about kindness toward others and filling their hearts with the hope that not everyone is a selfish prick.

Season’s greetings.