Wednesday, September 30, 2009

THANKSGIVING COMES FIRST !!!!

In this case the American Thanksgiving. You know the one at the end of November ('cause it would seem they harvest so much later than we do here in the GWN*). The one where people stuff themselves to bursting and get up ungodly hours to line up in front of the Walmart doors to be the first to stock up on all that Black Friday schlock. After all, exercise is good after such a hearty meal.

And what's up with a holiday on a Thursday. Holidays (other than Christmas and New Years) should always fall on a Monday or Friday. Thursday is sorta whacked. Just sayin'.

But I digress.

So, Suldog just posted about seeing Christmas displays in the stores. In his words:

If you believe, as I do, that Thanksgiving should play out before Christmas; that Christmas carols should not be heard on the radio before at least Thanksgiving evening; that advertisers who dare to encroach upon Thanksgiving - or, God help us, Halloween - with their hideous advertisements should be told in no uncertain terms that you will not shop at their establishments; that malls who put Santa Claus on display before Veterans Day should be made ashamed of themselves; then please consider doing what I'm going to ask of you.

Should you be as incensed as I am concerning Christmas schlock, please post a "
Thanksgiving Comes First" entry on your blog. Write from the heart. Everybody who visits your blog will know how you feel. Perhaps they'll also write about it, and so will their friends, and so on. I hope that, if enough of us do this, we might make some small impact.


Personally, I think Sully is a dreamer. But hey I saw my first Christmas display in AUGUST ferchrissake. That is beyond ridiculous! Atheist that I am, I really don't give a damn about the christian "little jesus born" aspect of Christmas. I like Christmas for the week of vacation I get. And the presents. Yeah, I'm shallow that way. In all honesty we could skip the whole damn thing (except for the weeks vacation, 'cause really, if I want a present I can buy it for myself) and I would be a happy camper. Christmas has become more of an obligation/annoyance than anything else.

But damn, I saw my first Christmas display in AUGUST! Granted, it wasn't a hot summer and someone might have mistaken it for fall - I'm ready to give them the benefit of the doubt, though I don't see why I should - but doesn't anyone flip the calendar anymore?

So: AMERICAN Thanksgiving comes first!!! Ours being on October 12, it wouldn't make much sense, and this post would have to be titled A Month After Halloween Comes First and it wouldn't make much of an impact at all, would it?

You have to wonder how retailers think. Do they honestly believe that people want Christmas junk this far before? I don't know anyone who will be buying twinkly little LED lights in August and early September when you can still be getting their greedy little hands on summer stuff for a quarter of the price. And let's face it, with the winters we get, the last thing I want to think about in September is Christmas and all it implies about winter and snow and slush and.... excuse me while I go hit my head against the wall now.

I have no problem with Christmas and it's place in the economy. Retailers love it. It saves some of them. But I fail to see how Christmas displays in September will entice people to buy more crap. But then I often underestimate the stupidity of the average consumer.

And so, I'm having my idealistic moment of the year (my one and only, and I reserved it for Suldog - he'd better be grateful). Perhaps if enough people do bitch about it they'll begin doing Christmas in November again. A woman can dream...

And Sully would see that it is good. And Sully would take a day of rest. And see that it was good. And pretty much shut the hell up.

OK, that won't ever happen in our lifetimes**. So much for my idealistic moment.

And thus, I reiterate:

THANKSGIVING COMES FIRST!!!


* Great White North
** Which is pretty much why so many of us are his devoted fans.
.

16 comments:

choochoo said...

we don't have thanksgiving. We're not the pilgrim sorts.

Suldog said...

Thank you so much for this! It's wonderful!

Mr. Jazz said...

Fuck Xmas: I'm for Festivus!

ticknart said...

The way that I understand it, or imagined it, is that retailers think that if they put up Christmas stuff earlier people will buy it earlier thinking they're getting a deal when, in fact, there are no special sales going on at all.

I have no idea if it works, but people who buy Christmas crap are going to buy it at some point no matter what.

Kay said...

love the picture and hoping this holiday season will revive a little of the economy :)

Dumdad said...

I'm a Brit but I love the Thanksgiving concept. No religion, just families and friends meeting and eating and drinking and celebrating. I've also been privileged as I've been invited to various Thanksgiving dinners by American friends.

My kids love Christmas - what's not to like: lots of presents and good stuff to eat and not be at school? And over the years I've loved watching them enjoy themselves.

But, yes, Thanksgiving comes first in my book!

Anonymous said...

I think you really are totally underestimating the stupidity of the average consumer. If no one was buying Christmas shit in August, would they really keep putting it out earlier and earlier every year? I personally know people who Christmas shop all year round and can't wait for the actual Christmas stuff to hit the shelves.

secret agent woman said...

I agree. I don't want to see a bit of Christmas anything until December 1st. Then they can go all out with my blessing.

I just posted a sign that you will LOVE.

VioletSky said...

I try not to shop at malls, but usually I am sick of Christmas long before it actually gets here.

Bandobras said...

In these tough economic times I'm sure the retailers are just doing what they can to bring joy to the hearts of all.
After all there is that fine old carol "The 12 months of Christmas" and I for one think we should get back to basics like that.
What's that you say? Really?, Days?
Pardon me never mind what I said before.

Big Brother said...

I'll go for Saturnalia... much better party. ;o)

geewits said...

I was trying to figure out why this whole thing has never bothered me much and I think I have figured it out: I do not go to malls and hate shopping. I go to the grocery store but never go down the seasonal aisle and I go to Lowe's or Home Depot and they usually have their seasonal stuff over in a corner somewhere. I suppose I just don't really see it. And as far as Christmas carols go, I love all of them and sometimes catch myself singing one in the shower in May or June or anytime really. I'm the "odd man out" here I guess.

Jocelyn said...

All I can say is "don't get me started." The whole consumerism masked as spirituality makes me hollering batshit nuts (moreso than usual for a Wednesday).

I, as in many things, am your sister in this.

kimber said...

I'm all for the ironic wearing of Halloween shirts in May, but I can not stand Christmas displays any earlier than December 1st. It smacks of rampant greed... humbug! Besides, the year is already rushing past at an alarming rate -- no need to make it go any faster!

lime said...

sorry i got distracted by october 12 being thanksgiving in canada. i like that better than it being columbus day in the US, but most of all, i like it cuz it's my birthday.

thanksgiving come first! i agree. the meterialistic focus makes me nuts.

Warty Mammal said...

By the time December gets here, I usually have Christmas fatigue and a bah-humbug attitude from seeing Christmas wheelbarrows at the hardware store, Christmas toilet paper at Target, ad nauseum since April or February or whenever the push begins these days.

I would like to enjoy each season for what it brings. Savor it. I dislike being rushed.