It is Nov. 15. There is over a month before Christmas. So why, as I pulled into my apartment's parking lot yesterday, was the place decked out like a winter wonderland?
The pool at the complex was closed two weeks ago. The trees still have leaves changing colors. No snow is in sight, but flip through the radio and there's already holiday music.
Since when did we go straight from Halloween to Christmas? Have we altogether forgotten Thanksgiving, which just so happens to be my favorite holiday?
Maybe the reason we are starting to skip Thanksgiving is that it's hard for card companies to market. What would the cards say? "Don't eat too much ... your pants are starting to look a little tight."
America's obsession with Christmas is so great, we, according to American Greetings, send two billion Christmas cards a year. Let's say an average card costs $3.50; that is approximately seven billion spent on Christmas cards alone. And don't forget the decorations and gifts. Every year Americans spend an average of $839 each on Christmas gifts according to CNBC and $3.3 billion on decorations, according to "USA Today."
Hallmark is having a hay day and Jesus is rolling his eyes.
I think America needs to get its priorities in order. Instead of taking the time to share a meal with family and friends and give thanks for the billions of dollars we have to spend on such unnecessary items like Christmas cards, we're skipping over Thanksgiving and going straight to the day-after-Thanksgiving sales.
So this holiday season, as you wait in line to pay for the $400 PlayStation 3, or that $350 Coach purse, think about all the other ways that money could be spent. Or at least, be thankful that you have the money to buy it. t&c;
