Scams, Sales, and Jingle Bells
As we approach Thanksgiving here in the US, stores are riddled with “holiday” themes. What Holiday? Well, Christmas of course. This time of year is a great time to point out a few things about out culture here in the US. We’ll look at some of the traditions we have and what kind of things corporations would like us to replace them with. With the economy struggling this year, many simply cannot afford to buy into the marketing of the season, and that may be just what we need as a country.
In the US we have this great holiday called Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving was a tradition that happened at the end of the harvest season, and was a time when the people gave thanks, to their Creator, for all that they had. The tradition was made into an official holiday here in the US in 1941. Now, a secular holiday, Thanksgiving is pretty much overlooked by many in the US. It’s called “Turkey Day” and is only used to mark all day football games and the day before “black Friday”(busiest shopping day in the US). The marketing is done so well, that shopping now starts at midnight Friday morning. It’s insanity!
Perhaps, this year will be different. It’s a good time to turn to God and thank him for what we do have. Get together with family and appreciate each other and the food we are so blessed to have. It doesn’t have to be fancy, just a time to say to God, thank you for blessing this nation and our family. That is what Thanksgiving is all about, not preparing to rush to the stores, trample people, ignore family and then feel good because you threw a quarter in the bucket of the guy ringing the bell.
It is my opinion that many people fall for this marketing of Thanksgiving for one major reason, Christmas is now about consumerism. No God to thank, now we can focus on spending money. Christians celebrate Jesus coming into this world, with the purpose of providing a restored relationship to the Father. Yes, I know it’s probably not the exact day, it’s not suppose to be. It’s the general celebration of God among us. Retail outlets and stores would like you to shop from midnight on “black Friday” through the new year. Nothing would make them happier. We can’t have God getting in the way of things.
What they don’t want you to do, is find real meaning in Thanksgiving and Christmas because then you will celebrate for free. I’m not against buying gifts for each other, but it’s simply out of control. I wonder what holiday people are celebrating when I read of people dying in store because they were trampled. People shouldn’t want something that bad that they are willing to die for it. This year money will be tight for many people and it’s up to neighbors and family to show the real meaning of these holidays. Invite your neighbor if he is struggling and you have an abundance. We are a great nation that once turned to God to thank him for all he has allowed us to have and then celebrated the birth of Christ. When you do those things you don’t ever fall for the scams, sales, or jingle bells. Here come the Holidays!
