Thanks for Christmas time.

(Mixed media art by Ida - circa July of this year)

What's that you say? It's not Christmas time yet? You must have been hanging out with Theo. He can't stand the decorations in the stores or the music on my stereo. He's wondering where the Thanksgiving decorations are in the stores, or the Thanksgiving music on the stereo, because it's Thanksgiving time.

I humor him and don't play overt Christmas music when he's around. (He doesn't recognize Handel's Messiah yet.) I tried to explain to him that stores don't make money on Thanksgiving stuff (except for the food), but they make lots of money on Christmas stuff so they put it out early so they can make more money. He looked at me like that was the dumbest thing he'd ever heard. 

Well, it is pretty dumb. I'm with Charlie Brown on the commercialization of Christmas. ("Isn't there anyone who can tell me what Christmas is all about?!" My favorite scene in my favorite Christmas movie) But it doesn't have to be about that. I already know I'm not planning to buy a bunch of stuff for Christmas (Christmas themed or otherwise) so I just don't spend time thinking about that. 

Ok, so maybe the bottom line for retailers is that they create an atmosphere that makes us stay awhile and spend, but for me, the bottom line is that it's a season, kicked off by Thanksgiving, where we help others, and we're thankful for what we have, and we buy or make things to give to our loved ones that we think they'd like, and we celebrate the gift that the baby Jesus was to the world and all that entails. 

And I like the magic and the music and the lights and the toys, and the snow for heaven's sakes, and Santa Claus, and walking through the stores even though I'm not buying much. And to me it all mixes together into one happy feeling.

I never believed in Santa that I can remember, but Christmas was always over-the-top magical for me and it's magical for my kids. I say bring it on a few weeks early--what's the worst than can happen? :)