Comments on: It’s the Most Wonderful, Over-Promoted, Too-Commercial Time of the Year

By: Hillary

Hillary — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 12:37:30 +0000

You-all are right. It’s important to remember the reason for the season and not get sucked into the retailer’s lair. But I just don’t like seeing Santa before Thanksgiving. Maybe I’m too set in my ways.

I know I’ve already done the bulk of my holiday shopping just so I won’t be hit with huge bills come January. Then I can also relax and do some more fun things in December.

I’m going to write a blog post on holiday recipes soon. I need some new dishes for the rotation, and some of you-all’s meals sound yummy.

By: Kelsey

Kelsey — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 00:04:30 +0000

I’m Canadian so our Christmas is in October but I completely agree with what your saying about Christmas. To me, you don’t put the Christmas tree up until it is actually December but my grandmother-in-law actually had it up on Halloween. And I understand about maybe putting lights up early because of the weather here but you don’t light them until December. My kids (three and one) are beginning to get lost in the Christmas greed but we try really hard to limit the amount of gift that they get and still make sure to get them gifts that they will love. We like to stress the thought behind the gifts rather then the amount of money spent on them, and this year I plan on taking the kids and a large bag of pet food down to our local humane society so that they can experience charity first hand.

By: Mismis12

Mismis12 — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 14:21:49 +0000

I love Christmas and everything about it… Yes it is a tad over processed and over promoted… but as long as you dont forget the real reasons of the season then I feel you will continue to love it!!!!

I love the Thanksgiving holiday because, like the 4th of July, I can imagine that all over the country, everyone else is doing the same thing I am doing. Cooking, basking in the love of family and remembering why its great to be an American.

Mully, I dont necessarily agree with this comment because while yes it is a wonderful feeling to IMAGINE that everyone else in the world is doing the same thing; sometimes dont your thoughts go out to those who dont have anything during this time??? Those who dont have family members around to be with and share this time with??? Those who dont have food on the table and a warm home in which to watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving day parade???

The Thanksgiving and Christmas seasons are my absolute FAVORITE time of the year… But sometimes I find myself thinking of just how lucky I am and how much I have… regardless of how over promoted and too commercial it all has become…

By: mully

mully — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 04:24:04 +0000

I am OLD! my kids are all grown now, but even back in the 70s and early 80s when I was raising my family, we bitched about the early onslaught of Christmas. I can remember Hallmark shops putting their newest ornaments out in August. I am not kidding you. So to see Christmas up at the malls this time of year, isnt that new of a thing.

I hated it then. I hate it now.

We have always tried to concentrate on November as being the month we get excited and ready for Thanksgiving. Its actually my favorite holiday of the year. Much more so than Christmas, because it allows all of the enjoyment of family and friends w/o the weeks and weeks of work and preparation. We made a rule when our kids were young, Thanksgiving at home and that rule stuck.

We do the normal menu..turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, some sort of sweet potato, green bean casserole, cranberries and for me and only me….waldorf salad!

After dinner and even if the dishes arent done, cos theres always tomorrow…for the past 10-12 years, we have the annual TRIVIAL PURSUIT NIGHT! It has become a tradition. Friends of the kids come, friends of theirs come, we drink wine, we yell and shout and act like complete fools into the very wee hours of the morning. By the time we stagger off to bed, we can hardly talk, but all of us are happy and smiling.

I love the Thanksgiving holiday because, like the 4th of July, I can imagine that all over the country, everyone else is doing the same thing I am doing. Cooking, basking in the love of family and remembering why its great to be an American.

Tomorrow, if my memory can reach that far back, Ill try to share some of my favorite customs and traditions I envoked when my kids were small. Some of these my son now does with his 3 kids. Theres nothing like traditions.

By: Allison G-MOD

Allison G-MOD — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 04:05:29 +0000

Every year since Dh and I have been married, we have been invited to others’ houses for Thanksgiving, with the exeption of one, and we ended up making pot roast instead.
I’m looking forward to finally staying home this year and making my very first turkey! (Pictures and a scrapbook page to follow)

My family has had a tradition of watching “Planes, Trains, and Automoblies” with Steve Martin and John Candy after Thanksgiving dessert each year. I think I’ll stick with that one.

By: Beth

Beth — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 01:10:08 +0000

I found myself at the mall today and was SHOCKED at how much Christmas stuff was already out. I mean, I guess if I’d thought about it I would have known, but still.

We’ll be hosting our first Thanksgiving at our house this year and I’m ridiculously excited about having my family here. I’m just going to focus on that - the visit we will have from our relatives who we don’t see very often.