entertain

As I walked through the crowded mall, I was surrounded on all sides by clear indications that the holiday season was in full swing. Colored lights and jingle bells hung from frosted storefront windows, Santa laughed his jolly “Ho, ho, ho,” under the massive decorated pine as he held children on his knee, and classic holiday carols drifted from speakers. Corporate America seemed to have forgotten that it was the middle of November, and we hadn’t even had Thanksgiving yet!

In years past, the holiday season has always been my favorite time of the year. As soon as I saw the red cups from Starbucks and the peppermint/gingerbread/eggnog steam rising from them, I knew that a month of stripy scarves, outdoor ice skating, and general holiday cheer was on the way. The city gleamed with decorations and everyone put in a little more effort to be happy despite the infamous fog and rain of San Francisco.

This year, however, my outlook on the holiday season has suddenly changed. As I looked at the baubles and bells nestling in every possible corner of the mall, I saw only the well-planned incentives to make people spend more money. Santa is just an unfortunate old man who can’t find a better job, the rewritten holiday songs advertising appliances and clothes are simply crude, and the entire ordeal seems to be one materialistic fiasco.

Don’t get me wrong, I have nothing against true holiday cheer and the spirit of giving. A good deed or a personally significant gift goes a long way, and holidays are as good a reason as any to better yourself and the world around you. I just don’t believe in spending entire days looking for the best deals, buying products for the sake of buying. Every store claims to have the “perfect gift,” every commercial asserts that you won’t find deals like this anywhere else. Between the radio, television, internet, billboards, and stores themselves, there is not a minute when we are not reminded of the fact that “tis the season,” and we had better get “a-shopping” before it is entirely too late. And if you’re not searching for the best presents for your family and friends, why not indulge and buy yourself the “fill-in-the-blank” you’ve always wanted? Sure, it’s the end of the year and we all deserve a treat to congratulate ourselves on yet another year well-spent, but shopping and buying should not be on the forefront of the American agenda.