2008 Woodie Awards
It's Christmas already?
Nick Jones
Issue date: 11/8/07 Section: opinion
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It's that time of the year again. The leaves are changing to reds, yellows and oranges. They gently swirl to the ground as you pass by. Halloween has passed, and the pumpkins and graves disappear from front yards. The weather turns cold with frost as a common occurrence. As you head off to class in the morning, your breath is clearly visible and it breaks the stillness that has settled into the air. People start to look forward to the Thanksgiving break, when they go home to stuff themselves full of delicious food and enjoy the company of relatives and friends from home. I especially look forward to Thanksgiving, as my large family gathers for dinner, and we share a night of joy and laughter. The last thing on my mind would be Christmas, which I tend to not worry about until the second week in December. However, I awoke on November 1st with a rude awakening.
I woke up to the sound of my TV chatting as it usually does. I barely notice it in the morning, but this morning caught my ear, and when my glasses were on, my eyes. I heard Christmas themed music. Astounded, I pulled as much of my half-awake attention could be focused on the screen and actually gaped in astonishment. Lowe's had a commercial playing with some stupid lady who couldn't remember what a wreath or garland was. Not only was I astounded at the stupidity of the commercial, but of the fact it was playing at this time of November. I actually checked my phone to see what date it was, thinking I may have slipped in a sleep reminiscent of Rip Van Winkle. Alas, it was the first day of November, and my mind was not playing tricks on me.
Is our society so focused on material goods that retailers feel the need to skip the holiday meant to make us reflect on how good we have it, and go to the one that makes us wish for more? Unfortunately, it seems the answer is yes. I always knew that our culture was all about money and getting more expensive things than others, but I found this encroachment of Christmas as a rude awakening.
I woke up to the sound of my TV chatting as it usually does. I barely notice it in the morning, but this morning caught my ear, and when my glasses were on, my eyes. I heard Christmas themed music. Astounded, I pulled as much of my half-awake attention could be focused on the screen and actually gaped in astonishment. Lowe's had a commercial playing with some stupid lady who couldn't remember what a wreath or garland was. Not only was I astounded at the stupidity of the commercial, but of the fact it was playing at this time of November. I actually checked my phone to see what date it was, thinking I may have slipped in a sleep reminiscent of Rip Van Winkle. Alas, it was the first day of November, and my mind was not playing tricks on me.
Is our society so focused on material goods that retailers feel the need to skip the holiday meant to make us reflect on how good we have it, and go to the one that makes us wish for more? Unfortunately, it seems the answer is yes. I always knew that our culture was all about money and getting more expensive things than others, but I found this encroachment of Christmas as a rude awakening.