IS IT THE SPIRIT OF GIVING?
Many will agree that this practice has gotten somewhat out of hand. Christmas is over commercialized. The "spirit of indulgence" has become the rule, with credit card bills to prove it. Christmas is the MERCHANTS DELIGHT and the CLERK'S DESPAIR, not to mention the post Christmas return rat race! $10 billion will likely be spent in America this Christmas for over 1 billion gifts, plus $150 million worth of wrapping paper. Don't even ask me about the booze that will be bought and consumed between Christmas and New Year's Day.Contd..
What would the Puritans of early America say if they saw Christmas today? In colonial times they called its celebration "Romish Rags" because of the features of paganism it involved. They even passed "Blue Laws" forbidding the keeping of Christmas, making minced pies and cooking plum pudding. A little harsh? I think so! But the big question still remains. WHAT MAKES CHRISTMAS SPECIAL? Strip off the day, the name, Santa and the reindeer, the tree, mistletoe, Yule logs, cards and all the commercialization and what do you have left? Some would say, "Just one BIG EXCEDRIN HEADACHE!" And they would be partially right, because when it comes right down to it, for many, December 25th is just an excuse to have a party, get drunk, spend money they don't have or need elsewhere, overeat and take time off work. For others it is a time of "Christmas Neurosis," loneliness, fear, despondency and emotional stress.
No comments:
Post a Comment