As I write this we’re in the middle of the 2014 Black Friday weekend and people are sending “where Black Friday came from” posts around Facebook. I’ve even heard the term “Cyber Monday” as the final day of the weekend for the first time this year, whatever that’s suppose to mean. This is suppose to be the beginning of the Christmas shopping season and everyone is seeking deals for the objects they desire. In true corporatist fashion too.
Earlier today I watched the 1998 version of Brave New World and noticed a scrolling sign in the back ground that read “work, earn, shop” and couldn’t help thinking about what the rest of “society” is doing right now. Most people in the US and probably Canada are currently beginning the Christmas greed shopping. “This for Joey. That for Kelly. I spent more on Joey than Kelly so now I have to go out and even up the spending.” It’s insanity.
I never understood, and even lost relationships over, the principle that Christmas, a pagan holiday rammed down all our throats by corporate greed, should be used to share myself with my friends and family and not by buying bigger and better gifts than last year. Yes, I admit I’m a bit of a Scrooge. I don’t believe in the Holy Days. I know they no longer have the meanings they had when they were created, thousands of years ago. What I don’t know is why we bother besides corporate support through excessive spending and a day off work.
I can accept the concept of family and friends. I even enjoy the time I spend with mine. But if I feel like giving something to someone I don’t buy it to hold for a designated date. I give the gift whenever it behooves me. If I want a day off work I book it off and don’t wait for a designated “holiday”. Christmas, All Hallow’s Eve, Easter, all of the pagan practices have little meaning to me. And attempting to generate validity to them by saying “it’s about the family time” makes me wonder what you do the rest of the year with your family.
I encourage you all to consider the reasons for the seasons for you. I encourage you to take a closer look at what tasks you are about to embark upon in preparation for the Winter solstice Holy Day called Christmas. Consider not spending and if you wish to gift to others consider creating something yourself. Give a painting or knit a sweater. You have talents that you can share with others. Consider this rather than working extra hard to give your money to corporations for gifts that are only designed to fail within a year. That way you have to buy more and the corporation stays in business.
If you want a tree take it for yourself and don’t pay a corporation for it. Or get it from a local land holder who’s clearing some space. Use real trees that are truly biodegradable or none at all. Seek alternative methods to celebrate your faiths or enjoy the Holy Days approaching. Spend only on what you must and create the rest yourselves.
Remember that in the movie A Christmas Carol it was the simple and lowly people who really knew how to enjoy the day with family in real style. Scrooge wanted nothing to do with the day as it interfered with his corporate business. Then when he did want to partake he immediately turned to corporate means to buy acceptance. Christmas is just another day. A day to be enjoyed with loved ones like every other day. Use it and enjoy it but please do so in a non-corporate manner and help end all that’s wrong with this world today.
Rob
I completely agree with this. It’s insane how most holidays have devolved into a frenzy of consumerism. I’m currently visiting Southeast Asia and even though people here don’t celebrate Christmas at all, every single shop is already caked with Christmas decorations for the sole purpose of selling things.
I’ve personally never been to the far east but I can see how they wouldn’t celebrate a religious holiday that stems from Babylon through the western cultures. It’s sad that a Holy Day is used even where it’s not honored to spur on wasteful consumerism.
I wholeheartedly agree with your anti-commercialism policy for Holy Days and pagan traditions. Time should be spent with family and/or friends whenever possible not just on designated days.
As an Australian I have only recently become aware of Black Friday and Cyber Monday and I still don’t know what they mean or how they started.
I’ve not actually found a realistic reason for why they were created or when. Best I can figure is it’s just more marketing noise to distract people from what really matters which you seem to have a good grasp of yourself.
Thanks for commenting and peace and blessing to you and yours.
Rob