While you were out Halloween shopping last month, you might have noticed a Christmas wreath or two. Each year, stores continuously release their Christmas items earlier in the year. Don’t get me wrong ― I like the crisp aroma of a pinecone and the peppermint of a candy cane as much as the next gal, but I still believe that starting Christmas decoration sales earlier takes away from Thanksgiving.
As I walked into Dillard’s a week before Halloween, my eyes were overwhelmed with old Saint Nick figurines and dramatic nut crackers. Somehow, I entered a time machine and skipped straight from October into December. I couldn’t help but think about how Halloween hadn’t passed yet, and already stores are promoting Christmas. I remember when Thanksgiving decorations were sold the weekend after Halloween, and Christmas decorations didn’t hit the sales floor until a week before Thanksgiving. Now I have to beat someone over the head with a turkey just to get an autumn leaf decorative tablecloth.
It is important that we remember the meaning behind Thanksgiving because, unlike Christmas, it is distinct to U.S history. Christmas, although it is an international holiday, is not the only holiday in the U.S. during December that involves gift giving. Our country is known for being diverse, and for that reason we have people who practice all different types of religions. Holidays such as Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and Las Posadas are all celebrated during the month of December.
During Thanksgiving, people gather together with family and friends to eat and reminisce on everything they have to be thankful for. Food has a way of bringing people together and putting people in a mindset to give, which is why it is so important that people do not overlook Thanksgiving. Christmas decorations come out, and, all of sudden, people rush to buy their giant Christmas tree, there’s a competition between who has the brightest lights and best lawn decorations, and children who have been on the naughty list all year are writing their Christmas list. Even after all of the decorative commotion, people who can afford to give are still not giving.
People are so consumed with the thought of receiving gifts that we lose sight of what it means to be humble. It’s more than just decorations; it’s the message that you send. Even if you do not see the importance of Thanksgiving for its ability to bring people together, appreciate its ability to remind people that things could always be worse, and no matter what you are going through, you should always be thankful.
Stores need to remember that it’s the little things that count. Retail, through advertisement, has a lot of influence on people. People will buy what you advertise. Stop ignoring Thanksgiving like it’s a holiday unworthy of decoration. Christmas has become an over-commercialized holiday, and instead of the biblical meaning, it has become hiked up prices, increased sale duration and cut decoration production for all other holidays. People have to first learn to be thankful before they remember the importance of giving. When society anticipates Christmas decorations more than autumn leaves and turkeys, Houston, we have a problem.
