Yesterday, I took a trip to the local "big box" store and couldn't believe my eyes: Christmas trees and accessories. Mid-September, and Christmas on the shelves. I know retailers keep pushing the envelope on bringing out the Christmas paraphernalia, but mid-September, 100 before the big day?
In the past, the traditional start of the Christmas season was Thanksgiving, but over the years the bottom-line sales have driven the "big box" stores to increasingly move the date up. How long before we start seeing Christmas decorations in June? Everyone got the shopping done between Thanksgiving and Christmas, 30 days. Why do we need 100?
Over the years, Christmas has been degraded into nothing but a commercial holiday and has long lost the real meaning. There are no more mangers, no more "Merry Christmas" but "Happy Holidays," no more tin toys but high-priced electronics, political correctness run amok and the sled is an anachronism.
I am grateful that I had the opportunity to experience the real meaning of Christmas as in "A Christmas Story." Yeah, it really was that way.
Ronald Williams,
Fostoria
