specifically, the way it’s become the consumer event of the year and now, this year – if you can frakking believe it – it’s turned into a contest between Mom and Santa.
Have you seen these commercials? I don’t know whose they are but they feature a woman (Mom) who has managed to get some great deals for the holiday by shopping at wherever. But instead of feeling happy, she has to rub Santa’s nose in it, eat his cookies, drink his milk!
I was appalled. It was so completely opposite of the spirit of the holiday. And I am so glad we’re not doing the whole big gift exchange. It was hard to put a stop to it, especially with my mom who loves nothing better than to shop and give stuff to people. But we’re sticking to a Yankee Swap, one gift only! It was one of my sisters’ ideas and a very good one.
Meanwhile, I did decorate that pitiful tree I got out in the woods. It’s still pretty sad and bare. We couldn’t hang anything too heavy on it. And all the lights are bunched up in the center. But it looks ok in the dark. You’ll see. I’ll post the pic on Sunday.
What do you think of those commercials if you’ve seen them? Am I too sensitive or is it in bad taste?
Awww your tree is lovely, lovely!!
ReplyDeleteWell I guess commercials are there to sell things - being altruistic and sticking to the true spirit of anything is way beyond marketing and advertising for profit!
Take care
x
I haven't seen them.
ReplyDeleteI hate how commercial Christmas has become. I live next to a house that is trying to outdo the hotels in Lost Vegas in terms of tackiness. Though I'll admit it could be worse, but I still feel suffocated every time I see the place.
What I do love about Christmas is the spirit of giving that comes with it. I don't mean the spirit of giving gifts to friends and family. I mean the spirit of giving to those less fortunate. :D
Old kitty, that's not my tree(I wish!). In fact, that's not even my picture but one I borrowed from...somewhere, Amazon, I think.
ReplyDeleteStina, yup, they do that around here, too, and some of the yard decorations are absolutely hideous. I will say 'in town' looks lovely and anyone who clicks on the door to the right can see for themselves.
Those commercials are terrible.
ReplyDeleteYou're right. Those commercials stink.
ReplyDeleteThey don't bother me. And really, Christmas is what each family (or person) makes it. Doesn't really matter what anyone else is doing, as long as you're doing it the way that works for you.
ReplyDeleteWith that, I wish you a Very Scary Christmas and an Oogie Boogie New Year.
Cheers.
Ever since I packed up my TV and put it in the closet, I have been less irritated with the world.
ReplyDeleteI also thought that was your tree and was going to say it was perfect. Ah well.
I think they are horrible! You're right - mean spirited.
ReplyDeleteI'd say those commercials are right in keeping with the Christmas spirit corporations want us to have and pretty accurately portray the holiday mentality that many Americans have adopted, if Black Friday was any indication.
ReplyDeleteI haven't seen it, but I agree; all the commercialism is definitely bad taste.
ReplyDeleteI like the idea of a Yankee swap...can you elaborate on it? Just one gift per person? Is there a price limit?
ReplyDeleteHate! those commercials! totally bad taste! wont shop there!
ReplyDeletelove your unassuming tree =) its real!
could be an inspiration to diet, ho ho ho!
Heather, Yankee Swap the way we do it is amongst the adults only and everyone brings a single wrapped gift with no tag. We've set a limit of $25. And it should be something you'd like to receive. When it comes time to 'swap' everyone picks a number and the person with the highest number picks a present first. The next person then picks a present which he opens and then can trade with the other person who has a present. This continues until everyone has a present BUT as you can see, whoever has #1 lucks out since they pick last and can thus either keep that last present, or trade it for any of the others. And yes sometimes you lose something you liked but sometimes you get something you like better. Plus, everyone is supposed to bring something good so hopefully everyone will go home happy. There are other ways to play but this is how we're doing it.
ReplyDeleteThe commercials are terrible but they feed into the frenzy of Christmas consumerism. Unless consumers change the direction of their view of the holiday, things will continue to be dictated by how much more money can be made...the shazaam of competition...even with Mom and jolly old St. Nick.
ReplyDeleteI'm with you! It's a giant contest to see who can get their hands the deepest into our pockets. I don't like the commercial.
ReplyDeleteWe've cut way down on the gifting also. We draw a name, one gift and that's it...
I'm with you. Every event on the calendar is an excuse for crass commercialism these days!
ReplyDeleteOh YES. I can't tell you how much I dislike that commercial, and for all the reasons you list.
ReplyDeleteMean-spirited, stupid, inept, childish: this is what Marketing thinks of the consumer. Yuck. I keep hoping it's a phase, but just how long is this phase going to go on?!
Pearl
Angela, Pat, Al, and Pearl, exactly! And I don't want to play that game, not by those rules. Seeing that commercial makes me even happier my family is doing something different this year. Now, maybe next year I can convince everyone to give to charity and skip the whole gifts thing altogether...
ReplyDelete