I hadn't realized how much time had passed since I last posted an update. It seems like every time I sit down to write one of these I get started but just never finish them.

I was walking through Walmart a few days before Halloween and was disappointed, but not that surprised to see Christmas decorations. That isn't to say I don't like Christmas decorations. Its not the case at all! But it wasn't even Halloween yet. It used to be it was considered early for Christmas to make its appearance before Thanksgiving. Over time it seemed to become acceptable for chain stores to have early Christmas decorations. I didn't agree but didn't care that much.

However, when I was in one of the small stores up on Main Street yesterday and saw that the store was filled with Christmas decorations I was disappointed. I had come to terms with the corporate commercialization of Christmas but was not ready to deal with small, local shops jumping aboard.

It would be one thing for Christmas to begin now if it were for the purpose of increasing spirit. But its for the profits and I don't like that at all.

Last night we were driving back from a Starbucks run when I noticed a Christmas tree, lite up with lights, on a front porch. Never before had I seen decorations our so early. Iknew that stores had alway sstarted to prepare for Christmas in September but never residential homes. The excuse given to stores was that it was commercial and they wanted to try to earn the biggest profit possible.

After seeing the tree I began to consider: how do I feel about this? I concluded I don't like the idea of people having decorations up/out so early. It takes away from the Christmas spirt and season come december because the decorations are no longer as special. When the become commonplace what is the use in waiting with anticipation for those early weeks in December when teh lights begin to appear?

Over the weekend I was watching old episodes of FRIENDS when I began to think about how each television show differs in how and if they recognize they Christmas season. Two that stand out in my mind are FRIENDS and The OC. Although FRIENDS is tradionally known for their Thanksgiving episodes more than Christmas, the show always highlights Christmas. Whereas some shows steer clear of all holidays and others just make it part of the background, these two actually deal with Christmas and Hanukkah.

I don't really know if there is any significance to this and if there is what it would be, but I find it somewhat interesting. Each has a different approach as to how they present the holiday. In the past two years The OC has created a new approach to the two holidays with Chrismukkah. Although it sounds like a ridiculous idea at first, the concept quickly gained popularity. I had thought the idea was unique to the show, having never heard it before. But after looking at some of the sights Prof Schacht highlighted on the class webpage I realized Chrismukkah had existed long before The OC.

My entire childhood we spent Christmas day at my grandparents. Tradition went my brothers and I would wake up early in the morning and open our gifts. Then my family went to church and came back to have Christmas breakfast. My mom always made some sort of special breakfast, whether french toast, eggs and many others. Around 1pm every year we would head over to my grandparents house, where my mom's youngest brother and his family and other uncles would all meet. Because one uncle lived abroad in Japan he would try to come home for Christmas. As for my mom's third brother, he was the oldest male in the family but was unmarried until I was 10. He lived in the city and we were less than 40 minutes outside so he would drive up.
However, come my 12th Christmas my Uncle Joe had gotten married and moved out of the city. Now he and my aunt lived in one of the neighboring towns and because she had always spent Christmas with her family wanted to merge the two. At first I thought it would be fun. I had forgotten how poorly my cousins and I got along with her two nieces and how her brother thought he could tell us what to do, despite having no relation to us.
Since that first year Christmas has never been the same. At my aunt's house, the food is catered and we have servers. Nothing is as relaxed or family-oriented as it once was and the traditional Italian food no longer exists. Now the main dishes are more Greek and Armenian, her families heritage, oriented.
I along with the rest of my family, they have each quietly voiced their opinions, miss the days of lounging around my grandparents house, serving ourselves and not having people hover over us, and stuffing ourselves with lasagna and all of the other traditional Italian foods.

For as long as I can remember the town decorations for Christmas were wreaths with berries wrapped around and candles in the centers. The wreaths were hung on the lamp posts along the main street and looked classic, not tacky. But about three years ago these huge red and yellow lanterns were hung as well. The overall community response was negative as the lanterns were oversized and plastic. However, the city response was the lanterns would remain as they were refurbished with money donated for that specific purpose.

But it took away from the small town charm that would settle around Rye during the Christmas season. Few of the stores in town are chain stores and each has their own quaint decorations. Some use ropping and little white lights. Churches cover evergreen trees in lights and set out religious decorations. However, with the new lanterns everything is overwhelmed.

Growing up Christmas was always one of my favorite holidays. I loved the decorations and the anticipation that was associated with the holiday. By the time Thanksgiving rolled around my excitement would begin to grow. Each Thanksgiving my family drove up to Rhode Island to spend time with my dad's family. On Saturday or Sunday before we left we would help my aunt begin to put out her Christmas decorations. Every year we put out the miniature fake tree that would sit on her kitchen counter. For the drive home my mom, who enjoys the holiday but doesn't want to start decorating as early, would concede and let us listen to Christmas music.