Victoria Craig – Pro
It may only be November, but there can be no denying the Christmas season is already in full swing.
Yes, Conestoga Mall has already been dressed in every kind of bobble and wreath imaginable and the peppermint mochas are back in red cups at Starbucks.
Okay, so you may all be thinking, “Wow, what a load of marketing, it’s only November.” But who cares? It’s the Christmas season and we should be enjoying it.
I mean, who doesn’t feel more cheerful and festive (especially with finals looming around the corner) when they hear Christmas tunes in the malls and see candy canes already lining the shelves?
Of course, Christmas revolves around family, love and, for some, religion. But it’s all the little details that really make Christmas memorable and special.
It’s the time spent with friends in the coffee-shops-turned-Santa’s-Villages, it’s baking the Pillsbury Christmas cookies weeks before so you can eat more of them, it’s watching Christmas movies in your PJs and slippers all day long and it’s smiling at people and having them actually smile back.
In all seriousness, the overload of commercial holiday spirit is really just what we all need to get us in the holiday mood so we can pick up our old traditions and start brand new ones. Think of it as a kick in the pants to find some much-needed Christmas cheer.
Sure, all the fuss may just be a marketing tool, but you’re obviously going to buy the presents anyways. So just enjoy the festive atmosphere and start your shopping early for once.
When you look at the big picture, it’s pretty nice to see that the celebration of Christmas is still valued in the kaleidoscope-culture of North America.
As far as I can see, we should be enjoying the holiday season as much as we can and be grateful that the holidays can still tie the citizens of our nation together.
So pull on your Santa jammies, sit back and relax in front of Home Alone with some hot cocoa and start enjoying this amazing holiday season.
Mike Lakusiak – Con
It’s only the middle of November and we’re already two weeks deep into the “holiday season.”
This is not to say that I hate Christmas or the good, wholesome family elements of the holidays, but it all starts far too early. If it is still t-shirt weather outside, seeing Christmas commercials everywhere and Santa’s castle with the big chair in the mall already won’t make anyone feel more festive.
Beginning the “holidays” this early is actually a bit depressing. It’s a month and a half removed from Christmas Day and I’m already aware of the fact that I have very little money and will have even less to buy presents.
The soundtrack to the season is another source of despair rather than joy. Hearing Christmas music this early does anything but put me in a festive mood. Hearing dozens of takes on the same routine Christmas songs by every conceivable artist only leads to the anticipation of Christmas, since all of this music will disappear the day after for another 10 months.
Unfortunately, whatever value Christmas music may have is ruined by hearing the same songs over and over. Right now I’m avoiding malls and coffee shops so I don’t hear Stevie Wonder’s Christmas album – the only seasonal music that retains some value for me.
Hearing Stevie sing “Someday at Christmas” before Dec. 23 would just make me run away screaming and possibly cry a little.
The fact that this two-month routine happens yearly seems to be part of the reason kids see the holidays as an opportunity to get stuff rather than give.
As soon as Halloween is over, advertising tells children that they want things and that they should pester their parents to get them. While the season is not about selflessness, these ads don’t make kids think “I want to buy gifts for others.” The whole commercial concept of the holiday season and its “spirit” just seems flawed.
As I’ve grown older, Christmas has become only about family and food; the commercial elements distract from the important parts.
As well, over-hyping Christmas for two months creates issues because, as some people don’t seem to realize, not everyone celebrates Christmas.
Everyone has their own opinions of what the holidays are about, but it seems like there would be a lot more holiday cheer (Christmas or otherwise) if there weren’t two months of force-fed ideas of Christmas magic in anticipation of one day.
